Otonan | The Hindu's Balinese Birthday

Otonan – Balinese Birthday

If the people beyond Bali celebrate their birthday with a party, the Hindu Balinese celebrate their birthday with a ceremony. This ceremony is called Otonan or Ngotonin. Different with the birthday anniversary that using only the calculation of the date and month, Otonan conducted every 6 months (210 days) once by using the Balinese Calender calculation, 1 month = 35 days.

Otonan (birthday) is an immensely important celebration for the Hindu Balinese. It constitutes right moment to reorganize, encourage the relationship of human self with the four integrated companions as the otonan contains two dimensional aspects, both sekala (visible) and niskala (invisible). By this, it is also expected to promote harmony between the body with soul and finally reach eternal bliss here and after.

Otonan is a day when Balinese aware of their self. A Balinese mother always remember when her child’s otonan is though the mother is illiterate she can count correctly when the day of otonan is. The fundamental purpose of an otonan is to purify and convey spiritual strength.

Balinese don’t celebrate their birthdays with cake, candles and presents and there are no formal invitations. Instead, the family makes offerings called natab and the person whose birthday it is will pray for health, happiness and guidance amidst wafts of ritual smoke. At the end of the ceremony, a piece of white cotton called benang sri datu is tied around the person’s right wrist, hung over the ears and one is placed on the head. These all fall off in time. Whilst on the body, they are said to protect the wearer from negative influences such as demons known as butha-kala.
 

Ngelawang | Barong Dance on the street tradition

Ngelawang, a unique Barong Dance 

on the street

Yesterday, I went to Penglipuran Village , Bangli Regency. Then I saw a unique barong dance called Ngelawang. Ngelawang is a unique tradition in Bali that is held by performing Barong dance on the street, performed by moving from one place to another and mostly only can be found in Galungan and Kuningan celebration. This tradition can be found almost in all villages around Bali. The tradition is believed already exists since tens of years ago from generation to generation.

(Ngelawang Tradition)

 “Ngelawang” tradition is inherited from generation to generation aims to neutralize the universe, rejecting any kind of diseases that interfere with human life, including “niskala” (abstract / not visible), expelling people who mean harm, interfere with the security of Bali.Ngelawang tradition in the context of sacred magical as an offering to reject harms as the meaning of ngelawang during Galungan until Kuningan.

The name of Ngelawang came from the words ‘lawang’, which means ‘door’, so generally ngelawang means a performance that performed by moving to one place to other place or from one village to another.

Nowadays, Ngelawang is not only performed by adult, it is also performed by kids with their own creativity in performing barong dance accompanied by its gamelan (traditional music).

The performance in Ngelawang using sacred barong which  is performed by grown up people is held by taking the barong around the village and performing the barong dance when they passing a temple. Meanwhile the one that is held by children is an entertainment and they will perform the dance when someone gives any offering and donation to them when walking around the village.

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Mepeed Tradition | Balinese Parade

The Unique of Mapeed Traditions

This is the one of Balinese Parade called Mapeed. It is the unique things that you can see in Bali. Mapeed held by the Balinese women in white or yellow kebaya because that colour is symbolizing purity, lined up long with fruits arrangement of offerings towering on its head.

 Mapeed is taken from word ‘peed’ means ‘like a parade‘. This tradition has already existed since 1711. It is a manifestation of Balinese Hindus gratitude to the God..Now, it has become a cultural heritage from generation to generation . Mapeed usually held on the village while the Balinese ceremony.Married women do their hair is a style called sanggul. 

Mapeed usually accompanied by Balinese marching or gongs, drums and cymbals called baleganjur which they can walk more than 1 km distance.The procession is always keep by Balinese security or called Pecalang who usually wearing the combine of black and white uniforms.The arrangement of towering fruits that they bring on its head called Gebogan. Fruits, flowers and cakes arranged in  a kind of tray called Dulang. It has a high average of 1 meter and make Mapeed Balinese parade is so amaze and interest to see.

After the Mapeed procession done or they arrived at the temple , the woman who be a participants will help by the Balinese holy peolpe called Pemangku to take the Gebogan into the holy place. And after purifying with the holy water called Tirtha, then the ceremony begins.

If you come to Bali and see the Balinese parade who brings the Gebogan, yes that's called Mapeed and if you want to get more information about others traditions in Bali, please contact BaliStar Island to give you an information that you want to know about Bali.

Megoak-goakan | Balinese Traditional Game

Bali famous with a lot of place of interest,but beside that it has many of traditional festivals or traditions with different things each others . Such as Omed-omedan or Kissing Festival , Bali Kite Festival, or Mekepung Festival. But do you know the Balinese Traditional Festival in the north part of Bali ? Yes, I will give you an information about that. It's called Megoak-goakan or raven traditional game. You can see the unique tradition at Panji Village, Singaraja City, Buleleng Regency. Megoak-goakan is a one proof of rich culture and traditional game are still continued until now. The game usually held before Nyepi Ceremony or  The Silence Day in Bali arrived .

The game not only for the youngster but also the older people can enjoy that. A team consisting of 11 participants against the other groups with the same number. You can feel the togetherness while you follow it  and don't worry about the orderly because that game will be managing by the Balinese security or called Pecalang. 

The history of Megoak-goakan

Based of the philosophy or on the 17th century, the activity it self is a re-staging of the history of heroism Ki Barak Panji Sakti known as a hero from Buleleng Regency

. And that is should be continued for the next. So if you wanna try that game, come and enjoy it on the day before the Silence day at Panji Village. Or you can contact the local tour Bali Star Island to accompany and accommodate your trip to Buleleng to see an atrraction.

Mesabatan Biu ( Banana War )

Morning Friends, back to My Trips My Experience, I give an title to my journey at last weekend, I hear some unique information, this tell about a unique tradition at Tenganan village. As I know Tenganan has Megeret Pandan ( Pandan War ) but this is the other one, that is Mesabatan Biu ( Banana war ) , I am glad to hear that, that the reason make me visit this village again. Mesabatan Biu is a unique tradition at Tenganan. The purpose of this ceremony for choice a leader and vice of gatherings of youngest people at Tenganan village western part by the river ( Tenganan Dauh Tukad ). That the fine time I visit Tenganan village, I can see the procession of this ceremony and the other ceremony are held at third mouth (Aci Katiga).

When arrived in early morning at Tenganan village, I saw  all of the youngest people find a banana fruit and coconut for held the ceremony. Just one thing make me so surprise, I saw the weapon in this war they used Banana fruit. Banana Fruit be a weapon??? before I arrived this village, I don't know how can the names of this war can be banana war, I know  I got the meaning ,that's the reason why this war named Banana War because they used banana fruits. The main area of this war is  held at the area of Bale Agung Temple, I stand at the Bale Lantang (long building) to stand at the good place to take a photo. I saw 16 person, the local people told the 16 person  had been choice by the leader of village, the 16 person will fight or throw the leader and vice candidates by the banana fruit. On the corner of the street stand up the candidates and  in the front stand up the 16 person, the candidates must pass the banana war, if the candidate arrive at the temple they can be the leader and vice of gatherings of youngest people at this village, the war is ending by eating together at the temple. This is My Trips My Experience today, see i unique ceremony at Tenganan Village

Perang Jempana ( battle of deities’ effigies )

Perang Jempana (battle of deities’ effigies) Ritual is held at the Pura Panti Timbrah in Paksebali village, near Klungkung, Bali every 210 days precisely on Kuningan Holyday. This temple is a clan temple of Pasek Bendesa which its origin can be traced back to Timbrah village in Karangasem, its congregation about 80 head of family (about 380 people). The preparation for Perang Jempana is already start in the morning, the members of the clan gather together in the temple and prepare the offering for Perang Jempana ritual.

At 5:30 PM, the sound of Kul-Kul (Balinese traditional alarm made of hollowed wood) urges all the clan members to gather in the temple. The male members of the clan are bare-chested and the female members use their best cloths. Before the deities’ effigies are prepared for Perang Jempana, they are placed in a special place in the temple, given special offering by the Pemangku (temple priest). After the deities effigies are installed in the Jempana (the palanquins attached to bamboo stretchers in which the deities’ effigies are carried), they are paraded to the Pura Taman (a temple near Unda River in which the Pemangku (temple priest) asks for holy water). The Jempana are placed inside the temple given a set of offering and the pemangku (temple priest) asks for holy water, while the members of the clan take a bath in the river, in order to purify themselves before attending the sacred Perang Jempana ritual.

After the holy water is obtained the deities’ effigies in Jempana (palanquins) are taken back to the temple. Arriving in the temple the deities’ effigies in Jempana are welcomed with Rejang dance by the young female members of the clan. The male members of the clan welcomed the deities’ effigies in Jempana  by performing a kind of Baris dance in which the dancers holding a Kris in their right hand and waving the Kris in half trance condition. After the welcoming dance is over the deities’ effigies in Jempana are given a set of offering. This offering is used for placating the deities and asking their permission for holding a Perang Jempana and asking their willingness to take a part in this ritual. After this placating ceremony is over, the Perang Jempana is ready to start. Perang Jempana is held in the late afternoon and involves dozens of young men carrying the deities’ effigies on jempana.

The Jempana are beautifully decorated with yellow and gold color cloths, flower and leaves. A dozen of young men carry each Jempana, the bearers are going into trance, running around the temple ground, chasing and crashing each other Jempana. This activity is accompanied by the high spirited Gamelan orchestra makes this Perang Jempana goes more and more frenzy. Sometimes a certain people from a huge crowd of onlookers which gather on the temple ground fall into a collective trance, adds a new color to this amazing ceremony.

Gebug Ende ( Rattan War )

Karangasen regency has a many uniquely and interest thing characterized "war", such as Fire war, Jempana War, Banana Skin war, Banana fruit war, Pandan war. All of this war held at a village in Karangasem regency area. One of the war held at dry season that is Gebug Ende ( Rattan War ). It's held between Oktober - November. This war held at Seraya village, with three area of this village there are The main area of Seraya Village, West and East Seraya, it take around 10 kilometers from Amlapura. 

Rattan war held by two person with Ende ( Shield ) and Rattan stick. Ende made from Cow Skin with 60 cm of diameters and put a frame. The rule in the fighting are all of the participant without shirt just use Balinese traditional cloth, that the reason, their body  will bleed. Gebug Ende held at the afternoon toward growing season. The local people believe if one of two participant was bleed, the rain will be start early. In sum this war held to ask a rain to the God. Rattan war also invite other people from other village like a people from Ujung Pesisi village, the people from this village come from Lombok, as we know Lombok also has a similar war like rattan war, this is peresean.

The ring of this war just need 6 m2. the referee of this war called Juru Kembar. The referee will divide the player based on their body and age. Before held the fighting, referee will held a example fight for give a spirit to players. usually the players will drink tuak ( traditional drink) before held a fighting. The rule of this war are players prohibited heat under stomach and hug each other. One fighting held around 10 minutes. the spectator will chose the winner.

Mekotekan Ceremony

Mekotekan ceremony is an unique ceremony held on Munggu village, Badung regency. It's held 10 days after Galungan day, exactly at Kuningan days on Balinese lunar calender. It's held at main village temple in Munggu.  It's held by 12 Banjar ( Gathering hall ) in this village, all of the participant are a boy with Balinese traditional cloth. This ceremony used a wooden stick, it's around 3 - 4 meters. All of the participant will meet each other at the temple and make a 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 " Mekotekan 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.

Mekotekan in story.

This ceremony held 6 month in one time since 1934. 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, see like a fighting. Year by year the spear used change be  stick. it's held at kuningan day because it's a 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. 

Ngusaba Guling ( a thousand suckling pig )

Ngusaba guling ceremony ( a hundred suckling pig ) is a unique ceremony held in the eastern part of Bali.exactly in Timbrah village Karangasem regency. It's held based on the calculation of Balinese lunar calendar, exactly on 420 days on one time or " Sukra Pon Kewulu " on Balinese lunar calendar.  Ngusaba guling same with the other Ngusaba at the other place in Bali. it's held at Pura Dalem ( cemetery temple ) in own village, but is has a different with the offering.

Offering is a symbolize of a word thanks you to the God. This ceremony can be unique ceremony because all of the family make a offering with a suckling pig and bring them to the temple. Timbrah is located around 5 Km from Amlapura city. Timbrah village has around 1200 patriarch. In the first, this ceremony held with simplicity ,spiritual, and kinship.

Long time ago not a lot of the Balinese people get they best income. When this ceremony held at the one of a village, they has their lucky, the rich people must give a offering ( a part of suckling pig ) to them. This relation doing a many times, year by year. Sometime the condition of some people won't just accept the offering, this condition make they be lazy every times and just wait the gift from the other people. No body know , when is the first time Timbrah village held this ceremony but this ceremony still held until to day. The name of this ceremony taken from the kind of offering that is suckling pig so it's make to be Ngusaba Guling ( a thousand suckling pig ).

Bali Kite Festival

The Bali Kite Festival is an annual international kite festival held in July in Padang Galak area, Sanur Beach, Bali. Traditional giant kites (4 metres in width and almost 10 metres in length) are made and flown competitively by teams from the villages (banjar) of Denpasar. The event is a seasonal religious festival intended to send a message to the Hindu Gods to create abundant crops and harvests.The teams consist of about 70 to 80 people, each team with its own Gamelan (Traditional Balinese Instrument ), flag bearers and flyers.

The Bali Kite festival has many kind of kite, such as Bebean (fish-shaped), Janggan (bird-shaped) and Pecukan (leaf-shaped) are three traditional kites flown during this kite festival. The kites are flown by teams of 10 or more adult kite fliers. The Bebean is the largest kite, and looks like a broad-mouthed, split-tailed fish. The Janggan form has a broad flowing cloth tail that can reach more than 100 metres in length. The Pecukan requires the most skill to fly, as its unstable form often tumbles towards the ground. Red, white and black are traditional colors used in the kite's designs. Each type of traditional kite has its own competition, with heats of 10 teams vying for the best launch and longest flight. Sometimes the kites come down over the adjacent rice paddies, and the team members have to dash through the paddy to rescue the kite before it lands in the water.

A competition is also held for 'New Creation' (kreasi baru) kites which may include detailed three-dimensional figures representing the Hindu Gods or sponsorship kites. Traditional and new creation kites are constructed from bamboo and cotton cloth. In the dry season of June through August, the winds blow continually from east to west in most of Indonesia. Balinese children and adults fly kites in the vacant rice paddies during this period. A gamelan orchestra plays music throughout the festival. The festival attracts many tourists and international kitefliers, along with many local spectators.

Melasti Ceremony

Melasti ceremony is an unique tradition held in Bali, this ceremony held 3 days before the silent day. The Melasti ceremony has the other name such as Melis or Mekilis. In this ceremony Balinese people going to the beach and take a pray at the beach, the purpose of this ceremony to purify themself from the bad spirit and trow it at the sea. This ceremony are held before do the Tapa Brata at silent day. Besides do the worship, this ceremony has the other purpose such as to clean and purify all thing of temple equipment and thna the temple equipment bring to the beach but before that the temple equipment be appointed and surrounded the village area, and next it will be bring to the sea, lake, ocean, river. 

The Melasti ceremony held for do the worship face to the ocean, all of the participant must use the balinese cloth with white color. After the ceremony, all of the temple equipment bringing back to the great temple of village. This ceremony divides based on the location, If the ceremony held on the capital city, it names will be Tawur ceremony, if it held on town ( regency ) , it names will be Panca Kelud ( Five Kelud ), if it in sub-district, it names will be Panca Sanak ( Five Sanak ) and next at village , it names will be Panca Sata ( Five Sata )and on Banjar (gathering place ) it will be Ekasata and in their house hed Natar ceremony.

Meaning of Melasti ceremony is a self-cleaning process of human, nature and objects that is considered sacred to the sacred back to perform prayers and an entry to Hyang Widhi (God Almighty), through the intermediary of the water of life (sea, lakes, rivers), with the throw out  that all is lost and the sacred dirt back. The ceremony is also aimed begged Hindu God that Hindus were given the power to carry out a series of silent day. This ceremony are complete with offering to the symbolize of 3 Hindus God's there are Winsu, Siva and Brahma.   

Siat Geni ( Fire War )

Siat Geni ( Fire War )

Bali is a unique island with a thousand of culture. On of them is Fire war, this war held one day before silent day. Nyepi ( silent day ) is a biggest ceremony in Bali, Silent day is a new year day in Balinese calender. The Fire Wars ceremony is a heritage that continues to be implemented for generations by Hindus in Bali to date. The purpose of fire war is for throw out the bad spirit from Balinese people body and public area. There are many way to throw out the bad spirit such as the a pray to the God until celebrate with a hundred participant.  The bad spirit described like great body, bulging eyes, and a long tongue protruding. As for the implementation of the Fire War, the weapon used is Coconut Fiber and Fire, Fire here in the sense of its meaningful symbol of courage and the courage we could throw out the bad spirits. The fire war start it with ceremony in temple, all of the participant must take a pray and get a holy water from the temple before do the fire war.

Siat Geni in Story 

According to the story other than to throw out the bad spirits, in ancient times an outbreak that resulted in a lot of people who died, to eliminate the outbreak held a ceremony starting reinforcements using flaming torches and appointed lift to all corners of the environment accompanied by cheers chanted fuel.

Completed the Fire War, the miracle happened. Plague that attacked be gone and can be resolved. Since the incident ceremony Fire War continues to be implemented by generations of indigenous culture and a tradition that must be guarded and preserved its existence.

Siat Sampian ( Sampian War )

Siat Sampian War is an unique tradition in Bali, this war held on Pejeng Village, Gianyar-Bali. This war are held four day after the ceremony day at Samuan Tiga Temple. The weapon in this war it used Sampian (traditional art of Bali and used at Balinese ceremony), the kinds of Sampian is dansil or Jerimpen. The Arrangements of this event it starts from  the local people there come to the Samuan Tiga temple at 07.00 AM, the local people there or it's called Permas ( girls ) , Parekan (boy). The permas and parekan must used the Balinese traditional cloth, and the colour of Balinese traditional cloth it's must white from head until thier foot. before held this ceremony they take a pray at Beji temple and next to Ratu Sakti temple, Sedan Atma temple, Ratu Panji temple, Anyar temple, Ajeng or Agung Temple ( the main temple ). After that continue to surround the temple as much us 3 times and than next to held mebajra ceremony, and next to ngober ceremony, medandan selendang and kancut is the next ceremony but this ceremony just held by Paremas ( girls ) but it's will different at  ngombak, this tradition just held by parekan ( boy ) and than continue by Siat Sampian War the paremas start the war and than continue with the parekan, in this time can catch the implementation the word of " Ladies First ". 

The meaning of the war is the weapon of this war it used Sampian. Sampian is the weapon of Winsu god to fight with bad effect ( Adharma ). The other meaning of this war is to celebrate the unification of a various kinds of religion and to say thank to the God for their life and healthy. This war also has a function to clean Buana Agung ( universe ) and Buana Alit ( our body ), After the local people held this war, The parekan held an unique war also, it is Pajeng war or Umbrella war, this war just held by Parekan ( boys participant ).