By observation
Pasola
February and March, after the nyale appear
Determined separately by the rato of each district, so dates differ between Kodi, Lamboya and Wanukaka.
Pasola
Practice Nusa Tenggara Timur
Maintained
A mounted contest between groups in West Sumba, held after the appearance of the nyale, within the annual Marapu cycle bearing on fertility.
Conduct
Riders of two sides hurl wooden spears at one another on open ground. The spears are now required to be blunted under rules enforced by the district government together with the customary body. The timing is determined by the rato from the appearance of the nyale, and the date therefore cannot be announced far in advance.
Standing
Pasola is not a sporting fixture, although it is now watched as spectacle. Within the Marapu framework, blood falling to the ground bears on the fertility of that year. This reading is given by the rato and is not always reflected in tourism material.
Sources 1