The charm of natural beauty on the island of Bali is no longer in doubt. Along the island we can enjoy the natural beauty that stretches, ranging from mountains, beaches and even lakes. However, there is a unique thing that makes Bali even more special, namely the preservation of culture which is very much felt in the joints of its people's lives. Visiting Bali feels even more special if we manage to get exciting moments by watching traditional ceremonies in Bali. Generally, the traditional ceremony can be witnessed by tourists to just witness or document it.
The following include seven traditional ceremonies on the island of Bali which have their own uniqueness:
1. U is dating Ngaben
The Ngaben ceremony is a cremation ceremony in Bali which is believed by the Balinese Hindu community as a ritual to perfect the corpse back to the Creator. Ngaben ceremony is divided into three types, namely: Ngaben sawa Wedana, Ngaben Asti Wedana, and Private. The Ngaben Sawa Wedana ceremony is carried out after the body is preserved before the time for the burning ritual to take place. Meanwhile, Ngaben Asti Wedana is carried out after the body is buried first. Finally, a private ceremony is performed for Balinese people who died outside the area or whose bodies were not found.
Given the large costs that will be incurred for the Ngaben ceremony, not all Balinese can carry out this ceremony for the family of the deceased. However, the government, both traditional villages and the provincial government, held mass cremation ceremonies intended for underprivileged families so that the bodies of their ancestors could be purified or cleaned according to Hindu religious teachings. So, the Ngaben ceremony will not always be carried out and cannot be predicted.
2. Melasti Ceremony
The Melasti ceremony is a purification ceremony for both oneself and sacred objects belonging to the temple. In Hindu religious belief, water sources such as lakes, seas and springs are the source of life or tirta amerta. In this event, people flock to the sea or water sources wearing white clothes and carrying prayer equipment and usually carrying pratima, sacred objects or statues to be cleaned on a scale and niskala.
The purpose of this ceremony is to increase devotion to the Gods and manifestations of God and to increase the awareness of Hindus to restore environmental sustainability. If you want to witness this traditional ceremony, come 3 or 4 days before the Nyepi celebration is held and stay at hotels adjacent to large Hindu temples such as Kuta or Uluwatu.
3. Saraswati Day
Saraswati Day is a holiday to celebrate science. On this holiday, Balinese Hindus usually perform a special ceremony to worship or glorify Dewi Saraswati who is believed to bring knowledge on earth to make everyone in the world smart and educated. Everything related to science such as books and scriptures is prayed for in the Saraswati ceremony. Not only that, there are usually dance performances and story readings that last all night
4. Galungan Day
Galungan comes from the Old Javanese language and means 'Win'. In accordance with the origin of the name, this traditional ceremony in Bali aims to celebrate victory against evil. In addition, the Galungan ceremony is also held to commemorate the creation of the universe and its contents. The series of Galungan holidays has been going on for about 25 days before Galungan. Every 210 days of the Balinese calendar, Hindus in Bali celebrate Galungan Day.
5. Mepandes Ceremony
Also known as Metatah or Mesuguh, the Mepandes traditional ceremony is performed when a child begins to enter adolescence. In this Mepandes ceremony, 6 upper canine teeth of children who are growing up will be scraped off. This tooth cutting ceremony is held with the aim of eliminating bad desires such as greed, jealousy, anger, and so on.
6. Cracking Ceremony
The Ngerupuk ceremony is carried out just the day before Nyepi day arrives and the community is obliged to make offerings to Bhuta Kala, with the aim of expelling Bhuta Kala so as not to interfere with human life while doing the retreat. The ritual begins with torching the house, spraying the house and yard with gunpowder, and hitting objects to make a noise. After the traditional Balinese ritual is complete, there will usually be an ogoh-ogoh parade paraded with torches around the residents' living areas.
7. Tumpek Landep Upacara Ceremony
Tumpek Landep is a ceremony carried out by the Balinese people to purify their weapons and equipment, with offerings and prayers. This ceremony will be led by a traditional leader, and will be carried out in a temple that is considered sacred and has the right location. All weapons and equipment belonging to the community that are purified are expected to give blessings to the owners of these weapons and equipment.
In connection with the unfinished condition of the COVID-19 pandemic, in September 2020 the Bali Provincial Government together with Parisada Hindu Dharma Indonesia (PHDI) and the Bali Province Traditional Village Council (MDA) issued a circular regarding the implementation of health protocols when carrying out traditional and cultural rituals. the. The circular letter essentially limits traditional and cultural activities that cause crowds. In its implementation, Pecalang as the customary security unit along with traditional village leaders are at the forefront of controlling the implementation of health protocols. The residents' adherence to customary rules and their traditional leaders is the key in anticipating current conditions.
If the pandemic has passed and you have the opportunity to vacation in Bali, take the time to watch this traditional ceremony in Bali.
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