Residents of Sade Traditional Village in Central Lombok began the Nyemulak ritual on 2-3 September 2026 to rebuild 75 Sasak homes, 8 berugak, 6 sekenam and a mosque after fire.
Cover image: Colourful Sasak ikat textiles hanging in Sade Traditional Village Lombok — photo by Midori, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Residents of Sade Traditional Village in Central Lombok have begun rebuilding after a fire destroyed much of the Sasak settlement, district and provincial leaders said on 3 September 2026. The Sade Village Lombok rebuilding started with the Nyemulak foundation-post ritual for the mosque and traditional homes, after the blaze razed 75 traditional homes, eight berugak (gazebos), six sekenam structures, one mosque, two toilets and 69 shops.
Details carried by ANTARA on 3 September 2026 at 11:21 WIB confirm the work began this week in Sade Hamlet, Central Lombok District, West Nusa Tenggara. Central Lombok District Head Lalu Pathul Bahri said the reconstruction launch was timed to the month commemorating the Prophet Muhammad's birth, considered auspicious, while reconstruction coordinator Lalu M. Faozal said all residents had agreed on the plan for safer, staged construction rather than a simultaneous rebuild. Governor Lalu M. Iqbal called for a joint bank account and task force to manage donations transparently and said a semi-permanent museum should be accelerated so visitors can understand what Sade looked like while the area is closed for reconstruction.
What was lost in the Sade Village fire?
The tally given after field verification is precise. The fire destroyed 75 traditional thatched houses, eight berugak open pavilions, six sekenam storage or communal structures, one mosque, two toilets and 69 shops that serve visitors. For a compact living museum where families live in the houses they display, that is most of the hamlet's fabric. The Bali hotel occupancy data for July 2026 shows Lombok's recovery is tied to its cultural villages as day-trip draws; losing Sade's core hits both heritage and livelihoods.
Authorities stressed that rebuilding must restore original character. Sasak architecture uses timber frames, woven bamboo walls and alang-alang thatch, with low doorways and earthen floors. Tourists visit to see those buildings and daily weaving and rituals, so the reconstruction brief is to rebuild as Sasak, not in generic modern form.
How will Sade Village be rebuilt?
Three decisions shape the plan. First, the Nyemulak ritual marks the auspicious start; foundation posts for the mosque and homes are set sequentially, not all at once, to allow quality control and fire-safety improvements. Second, donations will be pooled. The governor said all assistance should be collected in a joint account and overseen by a task force, because many groups want to help and transparency matters. Third, a semi-permanent museum will be built quickly so that, even while the hamlet is closed, visitors can see the village's story and crafts.
Officials also linked Sade's recovery to wider Lombok tourism. Integrated products such as Mandalika MotoGP 2026 travel packages include Lombok hotel and logistics, and the island's boutique stays featured in our new things to do in Bali and Lombok 2026 coverage, depend on open cultural sites to extend length of stay beyond beach time.
Can travellers still visit Lombok's cultural villages now?
Sade itself is closed during reconstruction, but Lombok retains other Sasak villages such as Rambitan and surrounding hamlets where weaving and pottery continue. Day trips from Mataram or Kuta Lombok can combine those villages with southern beaches. If you had a booking that included Sade, ask your operator to reroute to Rambitan or Tetebatu for a comparable cultural experience, and check whether a museum preview in Sade is available later in September.
For context on Sasak culture, the Sasak number about 3.17 million people (2010 census), roughly 85% of Lombok's population, and the Sade settlement is one of the islands most visited heritage villages alongside larger centres noted on the island. Preservation is funded as a first-of-its-kind effort: the governor described the project as West Nusa Tenggara's first cultural preservation rebuild of this scale, requiring patience rather than speed.
What should donors and visitors know?
- Use only the official joint donation account once published by the district task force.
- Expect staged work: house clusters and berugak will return in phases, not overnight.
- Plan to visit the semi-permanent museum first once it opens, then nearby villages until Sade reopens.
- If you hold a Lombok itinerary that listed Sade, request a reroute credit rather than a cancellation, to keep spend on the island.
Frequently asked questions
What happened at Sade Village in Lombok?
A fire destroyed 75 traditional homes, eight berugak, six sekenam, one mosque, two toilets and 69 shops in Sade Traditional Village, Central Lombok. Rebuilding began with the Nyemulak ritual in early September 2026.
Is Sade Village open to tourists in September 2026?
No. The hamlet is closed while reconstruction is underway. A semi-permanent museum is being accelerated to let visitors learn about Sade's architecture and rituals during the rebuild.
How will the reconstruction be managed?
Work will be staged house by house under a safer plan agreed with residents. Donations will be pooled in a joint bank account overseen by a district task force for transparent use, with oversight from the governor's office.
What can visitors do instead in Lombok?
Visit other Sasak villages such as Rambitan or Tetebatu, combine weaving visits with southern beaches or Moyo Island, and check operator updates for museum previews in Sade.
