Destinations in Indonesia The Sade Village, the Sasak of Lombok
and their Way of Life The Sasak are the indigenous people of the
island of Lombok. Like many ethnic groups in Indonesia, they
belong to the Austronesians who migrated from mainland Asia some
5,000 years BC to populate South East Asia all the way to the
South Pacific Islands. Today 85% of the Lombok population is
Sasak. Although Bali has greatly influenced Lombok, yet unlike
in Hindu Bali, most Sasak embrace Islam. A distinct feature of
religion here is what is known as Wektu Telu, a syncretic belief
of Islam intertwined with elements of Hinduism, Buddhism, and
ancient traditional beliefs, unique to Lombok. Many Sasak have,
nonetheless, also come to embrace the Wektu Lima, or the
mainstream Islamic obligatory five time prayers in a day. There
is also a small minority whose faith is called Bodha, a
syncretic belief of animism and Buddhism. Nonetheless, despite
differences in religious beliefs, the Sasak live in harmony
among themselves. The most an