I'm Feel Lucky Can See Unique Ceremony on Kuningan Day

Visiting Munggu Village on yesterday, I saw an unique ceremony named Mekotek. Mekotek ceremony is a ceremony it's held by 12 Banjar (Gathering hall) in this village, all of the participant are a boy. The boys weared Balinese traditional cloth. This ceremony used a wooden stick, it's around 3 until 4 meters. All of the participant will meet each other at the temple and make an unite of this stick like month shapes. The sound of stick will heard "tek-tek-tek" , it's a reason to taken the names of this ceremony be ‘Mekotek Ceremony’. On the one time if the month shapes is ready, one of the participant will climb to the top of month shape, some time they will fall to the road, but they won't be angry, just smile and happiness will see in this ceremony.

This ceremony held 6 month in one time since 1934 (on Kuningan Day). But after 1946 the Munggu village conserve this ceremony after the local people without a disease and disaster. Long time ago at the free time, the local people hanging their stick and the dutch, saw like a fighting. Year by year the spear used change be stick. It's held at kuningan day because it's an instruction from the king of Mengwi there is Cokorda Made Munggu. But if this ceremony not implemented by the local people, believe or not Munggu village will full with disease and disaster.

MORE PHOTOS

Munggu Village on Google Maps:

History of Legong Dance

 

Bali Island is not only known by its beauty panoramic, but also known by its local dances. There are many kinds of dance in bali, one of them is called Legong Dance. Have you heard Legong dance before? Legong dance is a classic dance which original from Bali, Indonesia. This dance is very liked by local and foreign tourist. Its rhythmic and lively movements dazzling every eyes who watching this dance. 

Legong dance is derived from the local word “leg” which means elastic or flexible, while “gong” intended for Balinese gamelan. So, the Legong dance is a dance that prioritize body flexibility with following the gamelan rhythm.The beginning of Legong dance is very long time ago, that is in 19^thcentury. At that time Prince Suawati was seriously ill and need a lot of rest time for his recovery. One day, when he sleep in kingdom’s luxury room, he dreaming of two women dancing in front of him.

Finally  when  recovered, he tell what he dreamed of to his three  daughters. The three daughters was very interested by the story, and wants to practice Legong dance. With pleasure, Prince Suawati teaches his daughters. Even he also invite the peoples to practice Legong dance together. The women trained to dance, while men are trained to play balinese music instrument called gamelan. After practice in long time, finally they have all the dance movements and gamelan rhythms.

 

     

What The Balinese People Do Before Kuningan Day?

Penampahan Kuningan is the day before the actual celebration of Kuningan Day, which is the day that marks the end of the festive season on the Bali island, by the departure of the ancestors, back to their own world.

Like on Galungan Day, Kuningan Day never misses the part of the local culinary tradition involving lots of pork, hence this particular "penampahan' day, which literally translates into "slaughter".

Penampahan is derived from the Balinese word tampah which means kill, slaughter. The killing of animals in this respect is symbolic for killing 'the animal inside yourself' - the victory of the higher self over the ego in their struggle for control of the inner power of the individual; implicity this symbolizes the victory of dharma over adharma.

While the men will be busy slaughtering the pigs, the women will have their hands busy preparing the colorful offerings of all sorts, both the ones involving the various colorful food, fruits and flowers.

So if you happen to jump on your scooter and cruise pretty much any part of the Bali on this particular day, chances are you will come across a whole lot of “in the making” situations as well as “behind the scenes” of the charming, colorful and joyful Kuningan on the next day.

MORE PHOTOS

Meaning of Mesangih Ceremony

The life of human being especially Hinduism ancestry in Bali, never be separated from religious ceremonies when humans are born until the time of death. Variety of religious rituals carried out, intended as balancing in humans life with God, human with nature, and humans with humans. One of the ceremony that still carried by Balinese people is Potong Gigi/Mesangih.

Mesangih ceremony is held when a child has reached adult age. There are six teeth that will be cut in this ceremony, that is two canines teeth and four incisors. Cuts to the six teeth are symbol of control over the Sad Ripu (six enemies in humans being) specifically Kama (desire), Loba (greediness), Krodha (anger), Mada (blind), Moha (confusion), and Matsarya (envy).

The purpose of Mesangih ceremony are:
1. Eliminate the dirt (sins) during the life of the person that performed ceremony.
2. With this sanctity, one can get closer to ancestors or God.
3. Avoid the hell punishment in afterlife that given by Lord Yamadipati.
4. Fulfill parents responsibilities to their children in order to be a good person

 
Thus are a glance meaning of the Mesangih ceremony, which the function is to guide mankind especially Hinduism to improve the devotion to God

More Photos:

Worship the God of War with Perang Pandan Tradition

 

Tenganan Village, Pengringsingan, Karangasem, Bali has a unique tradition called “Perang Pandan” that are well known to all over the world. With bare-chested, the right hand of participants holding a bundle of spiked pandan leaves and in the left hand holding shield made of rattan.

Ranging from children, young adults, to the elderly, by turns entering the arena which is devoted to conducting Perang Pandan. Injuring their each opponents body with spiked pandan, that is doing in Perang Pandan tradition. Not to forget, the sound of gamelan Selonding characteristic of Tenganan Pegringsingan, accompanying the ongoing match. 

After a few minutes, the wounds start to seem in the body of the participants. Even though it hurt, but they do it with happiness. Sounds of cheering youths and spectators in the arena. In this tradition, there is no enforcement for anyone who wants to play first. According to Sudiastika, Perang Pandan is not just to showcase for the power. This annual tradition as a symbol of tribute to Lord Indra (God of War)., worshiped by Tenganan Village’s people.

There is no term win or lose in Perang Pandan. ”This is not a competition, but a form of homage to our Lord”, said one of participant, I Kadek Sulatra. For Sulatra, Perang Pandan are considered the most sincere tribute to the Lord, when his blood sacrificed. Perang Pandan is the sacrifice of the followers of the Lord Indra himself. If not conducted, there will be untoward incident.

More Photos:

Meaning of Tumpek Landep

16^th Mei 2015 is a special day set aside on the Balinese calendar to give thanks to Sang Hyang Pasupati, Lord of heirlooms, for the creation of metal goods.  On that day, specific offerings are made in the home for kitchen implements, garden tools and metallic parts of machinery, vehicles and the like. Builders generally take a day off to make offerings for their work tools.

This special day for Balinese Hindu people is called "Tumpek Landep" day, devoted to Sang Hyang Pasupati, Lord of heirlooms, weapons and metal tools for proper function and magical power. The celebration is held at every house compound and temple.

With these offerings, special prayers are said to pray to God so that these material things continue to be strong and bring good fortune to their owners.  Within the family temples where heirlooms such as krisses (wavy double-bladed daggers) and other weapons are kept, offerings are made to ensure the continued magical power of these implements.

The kris is considered a standard part of traditional Balinese dress. During a wedding ceremony the groom will wear one across his back if the family has one, and you can see them on most of the male characters in Balinese dances, operas and dramas.  Offerings are also given to any kind of vehicles after being cleaned. It would be a good opportunity for travelers to Bali to witness how thousands of cars, motorbikes and other metal items are fully decorated with the offerings and ornaments made from young coconut leaves.

MORE PHOTOS

Tuak Balinese Beer

'Tuak' is palm beer, a sudsy and quite mild elixir brewed from palm tree sap. 'Tuak' is produced by fermenting the sap of flower bud of any of a number of species palm. In Bali, coconut tree, called 'punyan nyuh', is most often used because of the trees are quite common. In areas where sugar palms, 'punyan jaka', palm trees, grow, their juice is used. In north and east Bali, the 'lontar' palm, called 'punyan ental', is used for 'tuak'. The problem with 'ental', however, is that the leaf-bearing branch of the tree is full of thorns. There are two kinds of 'tuak'. The first is 'tuak manis', “sweet,” (sometimes called 'nguda'or young) and 'tuak wayah', “old.” The difference between the two is in taste and alcohol content, with 'tuak wayah' being dryer and more potent. 

'Tuak manis' is fresh from the tree, and it has a fairly high sugar content because the fermentation process has not gone very long. Most connoisseurs avoid 'tuak manis' because it causes stomach problems, flatulence, and diarrhea. But it does have a following. The preferred drink is 'tuak wayah'. It has a much stronger taste than 'tuak manis', with a definite alcoholic flavor. Somewhat sour, and not unlike heavily hopped beer. Like beer, it is an acquired taste. But an awful lot of Balinese seem to have acquired it. Both varieties of 'tuak' produce bubbles constantly, because fermentation is still going on, and one of the products of fermentation is carbon dioxide. 'Tuak manis' has thicker bubbles than 'tuak wayah' and more of them. A narrow mouthed container of 'tuak' with bubble and foam as if it contain soap suds. It cannot be sealed, of course, or it would explode.  'Tuak' get stronger as day goes on. If produce in the morning, you can drink it in the evening, or even for two or three days after that. Then it turns into vinegar. Most people drink it fresh. 'Tuak' will keep for a long time in the refrigerator, but few individuals have one. No 'tuak' is prepared and bottled in large factories for sale in stores. All 'tuak' is collected and fermented by individuals or small groups of individuals who market it very locally.

MORE PHOTOS

The Legend of Leak Bali

'Leak' was a human who is practicing black magic and have cannibalistic behavior. It is said that Leak is flying around try to find a pregnant woman in order to suck her baby's blood or a newborn child, to complete her magical skill. There are three legendary Leak, two females and one male. Leak with the great magic skill can transform into 'Rangda', queen of black magic. Leak is said haunt the graveyards, feed on corpses, have power to change themselves into animals, she even take the form of a monkey with golden teeth or a massive rat, a ball of fire and even a bald-headed giant. It is said that she have an unusually long tongue and large fangs.

In daylight she appear as an ordinary human, but at night her head and entrails break loose from their body and flying around. Her powerful enemy is 'Barong', a character in the mythology of Bali. He is the king of the spirits, leader of the hosts of good. 'Barong' and 'Rangda' exist in the natural order of the cosmos and represent as Good and Evil. Both 'Barong' and 'Rangda' are cemented in Balinese legend.

The legend of 'Leak' in Bali refers to a horrible black magic inspired drama with the key figure of 'Calon Arang'. There was a widow called 'Calon Arang' at the village of 'Girah' having a beautiful daughter. Her daughter name is 'Ratna Manggali', who has reached her adultery, but no one among youths from the village and surrounding had the courage to approach the virgin. This is because her mother is known to have black magic knowledge, and practiced it maliciously, and with her bad attitude causing many people were dead even hatred was increasing among the people, yet this is used as a temptation to her thirsty black magic need. Her bad reputation at last reached the palace, and some soldiers took initiative and asked permission to the king to punish the widow. The soldiers headed to the village of 'Girah' and found her sleeping. One solder drag her by her hairs, but unfortunately she awaken and once she was startled she glared with her 2 wild eyes emanating fire shooting and burnt the soldier, the other took a hundred steps of flee but again her blitz eye fires burnt them except one solder survived the malicious black magic fur. This soldier then reported his horrible experience to the king, and made the king totally upset and run out of reason to overcome the problem. 'Calon Arang' know that the palace involved in this scandalous act of murder trial, and she become uncontrollably angry and spread her magic malicious power causing great epidemic.

MORE PHOTOS