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BALI.... THE ONLY YOU CAN FIND IT |
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Bali located between 8 and 9 degree south of the Equator, lies just below the equator in Southeast Asia, part of the world's largest stretch of volcanoes.
A very narrow strait, called the strait of Bali, joins the Indian (Indonesia) ocean and the Java sea, separating Bali Island from Java Island.
Bali Island’s total area is slightly more than 2000 square miles. According to the latest census Bali Island’s population is three million five hundred thousand people.
Most population of Bali Island (90%) are Hindu and the others are Catholic, Protestant, Moslem and Buddhist. The Hinduism in Bali mixed with local tradition and culture, thus almost everyday you can find ceremony or festival.
Caused of the tradition and culture make Bali more unique and this unique you only find in Bali. Why It Unique? Some below tradition was only founding in Bali.
"Perang Pandan" Pandanus Battle Festival at Tengenan Village
Tenganan is located in Manggis Resident, Karangasem Regency. It's about 65 km from the capital of Denpasar and 17 km from the capital of Karangasem Regency-Amlapura.
It lies at the end of U-shaped chain of hills between the Bukit Kauh and Bukit Kangin, natural boundaries that separate the settlement from outside world. The house compounds are along two main village roads that run from the sea towards Mount Agung
Perang Pandan is specific to Tenganan village only. The word “ perang pandan “ is a two words noun in Indonesian language, while in Tenganan this war dance is called “ makare-karean “ This event is carried out during the ceremony of the temple called “ Ngusaba “ It is strange because this kind of ceremony is also known by the rest of Balinese, especially those living on lowland with rice irrigation system called “ Ngusaba Nini “ The basic idea of this ceremony is to request a good rice harvest. At lowland area this ceremony is not a regular one, but it is decided by the village elders with ritual leaders in a plenary meeting. While in Tenganan village this is a regular ceremony based on Caka year calendar and is organized in the village temple.
For makare-karean war dance there is no rule of fighting, except the dance is given more to younger generation. The term “ fighters “ may more appropriate name to designate perang pandan instead of a dancer. The fighters bring in hand sharp edged pandanus leaves, while the other hand holds bamboo or rattan woven body shield to protect the body from the provocation of opponent. One person acts only as a referee. The fight resulted the scratch on the skin by thorny pandanus leaves and caused the bleeding. No one is safe from the scratch of the pandanus leaves after the fighting, the only smaller or wider scratches. After the fighting the ritual leader gives the scratch an oil made from herbal medicine, and spread holy water to the fighters. No heart feeling among fighters, and they all sit together to have meals on banana leaves.Selonding, Tenganan traditional music, being played following the makare-kare festival.
Omed-omedan "The Kissing Ritual"
This is a unique tradition only held a day after Nyepi (Silence day) at Banjar Kaja, Sesetan village, Denpasar.
Hundreds of people hooted and screamed in excitement as a young man, sitting on the shoulders of his two friends, managed to land some quick kisses on a girl's cheek as men splashed water on the two.
The girl, also sitting on the shoulders of two men, could only try to hide her blushing in vain while the sounds of a Balinese ensemble got louder and merrier.
T
he participants stand in two opposite groups (men on one side, women on the other) and pick their friends to be the next designated "kissers". The selected teenagers are carried on their friends' shoulders and performed the quick, ritualistic kisses. The participants then chose another pair of "kisser" until every member of the group gets their turn.
This ritual has been passed down from generation to generation in the hamlet as an activity intended to strengthen the social cohesion of the youth.
Makepung 'Traditional Buffalo race'
"Makepung"; This tradition which is a race for buffalos is originally from Jembrana. It is usually joined by the farmers since they absolutely have buffalos to plough their farm. However, other professions may take part in it, provided they have buffalos. Makepung is usually held once in two weeks when farmers have no schedule to plough.
hundreds couples of buffalo which each couple bounded together with a little carriage have to be registered. They are divided into two groups, west and east. The division of the group is measured from the central place. For example, Ijo Gading Bridge is the central point. Then, participants from regions in west of Ijo Gading bridge belong to the west group and vice versa. Each group use different color for flag and t-shirt. For instance, west group wear green t-shirt and uses green flag and east group uses red.
Each of participants has been mated with another participant from another group. There will be two couples of buffalos; a west and an east which are released once in two minutes continually until all of buffalo couple race. Both east and west buffalo race in the same track but start in different position on one line since the track is narrow. Because of they in different position on the same line, they have their own finish position on the line. The winner is the couple of buffalo which get its finish line first. So, it is almost impossible that they pass each other and they don’t need to in order to be win just run as fast as possible; and that how buffalo race goes.
Ngelawang 'Door to door exorcism'
The word “ngelawang” in traditional art context is equivalent to “door to door art performance”. In the beginning of 19th door to door mask performance was an everyday spectacle. But since the beginning of 20th century this tradition was already in the grip of extinction. The reminiscent of the ngelawang tradition still can be found today in “Ngelawang Barong” tradition. But it is not a “door to door art performance” but “door to door exorcism”.
The Ngelawang Barong is a journey of Barong (personification of Lord Protector in form of mythical beast such as lion, tiger, boar, etc) in a certain area in order to restore the balance of negative and positive force in that area. The Ngelawang Barong activity is held during a 42-day period following Galungan. The lord protector (Barong) begins the journey at 3 or 4 pm until 8 pm for a long distance or a vast area the barong may spent a night in a certain temple usually the village temple.
The Barong in ngelawang activity usually takes a main road or secondary road of the village but never on small road or alley. The owner of the house in that area will stop the passing Barong and ask the Lord to purify his house compound by performing a ritual dance on the street in front of his house compound. The owner the house will presented an offering of canang sari (small arrangement of flower on young coconut leave, holy water in small container, and some money usually Rp. 5000 or Rp 10.000. The focus is not on the money, but on the offering. People can not ask the protection only with money without proper offering, but someone can ask the protection only with an offering without money. The owner of the house and his family will pray in front of the dancing barong, and the barong will give his blessing by giving a small amount of his fur which is used as an amulet by the owner of the house.
Ngelawang Barong not just performed during a 42-day period following Galungan but also in time of disaster such draught, failed crops, plague, and Bali bomb. For the failed crops disaster the Ngelawang Barong will be carried out on the rice field. The barong will give his blessing by running or dancing on the rice field. For other disasters the Ngelawang Barong will be held in on the spot of disaster. |
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