Tedung -The Balinese Sacred Umbrella

When during your holiday, have you seen an umbrella which decorated in Balinese Temple? It called Tedung or Pajeng. Tedung or Pajeng is one of Balinese Hindu ceremony equipment which was shaped like an umbrella and has many shapes, sizes, colors, functions.

Tedung or Pajeng was made by bamboo for the work frame, yarn, cotton cloth and wood for the pole. Every place in Bali has a difference style than each other. Undagi (Tedung maker) has a special skill to make it. Tedung or Pajeng is divided into 2 types, those are Tedung Agung and Tedung Robrob. Tedung Agung usually was decorated with a colorful cloth or normally called Ider-Ider on the edge of Tedung Agung. Tedung Robrob was decorated with a small ball made from wool yarn on the edge of Tedung Robrob. 

The generally, every color of Tedung has meaning, like black or white (called by Poleng) is symbolized of harmonizing (Rwa Bineda), the black is symbolize of Wisnu God (God of maintenance the world), the red is the symbolize of Brahma God ( God of creator the world) and the white is symbolize of Siwa God ( God of destruction the world) Tedung or Pajeng is not the normal umbrella, we cannot use it to protect us from rain, but it is the holy equipment. 

When Balinese people conduct “Melasti’ (purification ceremony and ritual ), they use pajeng to protect God’s manifestation like Barong, Rangda or Pratima. But now, Tedung is used the decoration of hotel or restaurant and look more beautiful.

The Origin Bali Island's Name that Never You Know

As we know Bali Island is a nice place for spending our holiday because Bali offers you many unique cultures, amazing tourism objects, spectacular food, beautiful nature, kindly people and maybe also a pretty girl. Because of that, Bali is the best tourist destination in the world, but do you know why this island called Bali? If you didn’t know, this article would give you nice information.

The word of Bali first time comes from an inscription were found in Blanjong Village, Sanur and this inscription also called by Blanjong Inscription. The inscription was created by Sri Kesari Warmadewa King in 835 Caka (913 AD) and it contains one word “ Bali Dwipa”. Bali Dwipa comes from Sanskrit and divided by 2 words Bali means the offering or Banten and Dwipa mean island.

According to the researchers, this name is given by the merchants from India that have spread in southeast Asia around the first century AD, and base on the religious activity of Bali island’s society who use various types of offerings (Banten = Bali) as a means of the ceremony.

Meanwhile, the Gobleg Inscription which is made in 905 Caka (983 AD) contained the word 'Bali'. In this inscription found the words "... ..siwyan ... ..dini in Bali ...." and means ‘respected here in Bali’

The word 'Bali' is also discovered in the Buahan Inscription 1103 Saka (1181 AD) which is written by King Jayapangus. In this inscription found the sentence reads, "... ..pinaka pangupajiwaning souls wardhana ring Bali Dwipa" ... .. and it means a source of livelihood for growing every society on the island of Bali.

Generally, foreign sailors know Bali with many names. Some foreign sailors call Balle or Ilha Bale. Dutch sailor who had stopped in Bali, Cornelis de Houtman knows this tiny island with Baelle. Now, you get information on why this paradise island was called by Bali. Bali cannot be spared from Hinduism activities, and society always uses Banten in the religious procession.

The Basic Movement of Balinese Dance before You Learning It

Have you watched Balinese Dance? Balinese Dance is more attractive than Java Dance because the movement of Balinese Dance is powerful. Bali has many traditional dances, the famous one is Pendet Dance (Welcoming Dance). There are 3 basics of Balinese Dance before learning it. 

Those are ; 

1. Agem 

2. Tandang 

3. Tangkep 

The meaning of Agem, Tandang, Tangkep are: 

1. Agem is the primary movement of Balinese Dance which doesn’t change. Agem is consisted of 2, right Agem and left Agem. 

a. Right Agem for woman
• The left foot is in front of the right foot with a corner position. 

•The distance of the left foot between the right foot is one clod of hand. 

• Left toe lifted 

• The butt is moving to the left and knees bent. 

• The right hand is equal with eyes and the left hand is equal with breast. 

 • The palm is facing forward. • Glancing to the right side 

• The body weight centered on the right foot. 

b. Left Agem for woman 

• The right foot is in front of the left foot with a corner position. 

• The distance of the left foot between the right foot is one clod of hand. 

• Right toe lifted 

• The butt is moving to the right and knees bent. 

• The left hand is equal with eyes and the right hand is equal with breast. 

• The palm is facing forward. 

• Glancing to the left side 

• The body weight centered on the left foot. 

 

c. Right Agem for man 

• The left foot is in front of the right foot with a corner position. 

• The distance of the left foot between the right foot is one sole of the feet. 

• The position of the body is perpendicular. 

• The body weight centered on the right foot. 

• The palm is facing forward. 

• The position of the hand is equal to shoulder. 

• Glancing to the right side 

d. Left Agem for man 

• The right foot is in front of the left foot with a corner position. 

• The distance of the left foot between the right foot is one sole of the feet.

• The position of the body is perpendicular. 

• The body weight centered on the left foot. 

• The palm is facing forward. 

• The position of the hand is equal with the shoulder. 

• Glancing to the left side 

2. Tandang Tandang is a way to move a primary movement to other primary movements, so that it becomes an integral part of continuous movement. 

3. Tangkep Tangkep is the expression when we conducting the dance

The Powerful Guardian of Balinese House

Balinese Statue Powerful Guardian of Balinese House

Have you been seen the statue in front of a temple or palace during you spent the holiday in Bali? It was called by Bedogol which is the Balinese name for the gate guardian statue. It also called Dwarapala.

The statues were placed only in Pura (temples) and Puri (Royal homes), but nowadays they can be found in most houses in Bali. The statues are usually placed on the left and right sides of the gate - they are an essential element of Balinese exteriors. They mark homes with stark personality, charm, beauty or eccentric figures. People are free to choose any character to be used as a Bedogol. 

The statue representing the more powerful character is placed on the right side of the gate. Balinese People are always concerned with directions and also with positions - left and right. The complementary nature of Bedogol and their placement on both sides of the gate relates to the Balinese philosophy of good and bad, positive and negative and the essential necessity to balance these forces - to make them neutral. And it is important to know that the good does not exist without the bad or, for that matter, the bad without the good. The bedogol’s purpose is to organize possibly unbalanced elements from the outside world, to make the positive and negative neutral before they enter the home.

The guardian statues are typically a pair of characters that complement each other, such as young and old brother. Most Balinese use the male-female Dwarapala to guard their homes. Sometimes they look alike, but they are not identical. Often the statues are like a mirror image rather than an exact replica. For example, if one statue makes a gesture to the left, the other would make it to the right. So, you just glance at our Dwarapala statues and walk through the gate assured of a stable and peaceful atmosphere. This is one of the unique things in Bali that you must know when you spent the holiday in Paradise Island.