Mad Bamboo (bambu gila) - Moluccans magical game

Mad Bamboo (bambu gila) is a most antique traditional game in Maluku islands. This game is also called by the name of "bulu gila". This traditional game is usually performed by the village youth in certain events.

The need for this game is a piece of bamboo which consists of seven segments, seven people of which each will hold the bamboo in each segment, and a handler who will lead the game.

To start the game then any person holding or hugging each segment of bamboo, handler then burn incense inside a coconut shell and whisper an incantation on every segment of bamboo.  Function of the burn incense and spoken incantation or mantra is to invoke the spirits of the ancestors to give strength to the bamboo.

After the magical powers entered into the bamboo then the handler will command the bamboo to move in accordance with the wishes of the handler.

Although bamboo holder trying with all their strength to resist the force of bamboo, but they do not have enough power to do that and they will be mocked by the bamboo. Mad bamboo game will end with the fall of the holders of bamboo one by one because they can not resist the power of bamboo. Strength of bamboo will be lost when the handler holds the bamboo and taming it.

Click here to see a video of the bambu gila.