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.