Bali Information: Ceremony in bali

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Pecalang - Balinese Guardian

For Balinese, security is a vital aspect of life especially the security of religious ceremony, to ensure the security of their religious ceremony, a traditional security force called pecalang. The word “pecalang” is derived from the word “celang” that means “vigilant”. They are easily recognized by their cloths, their trademark uniform is, black and white checkered waistcloths, carrying keris daggers with black or checkered headdress.

Every village in Bali has its own pecalang, and the action of this traditional security force is controlled by the village regulation (awig-awig). This rapid spread of pecalang is greatly influenced by a law passed by the regional government of Bali in 2002 that formally legitimized the pecalang. The law stated that the safety and order in the area of the desa pakraman (village) is carried out by pecalang. Pecalang carries out duties of safeguarding the area of the desa pakraman relating or based on adapt (traditional law) and religion, and Pecalang are selected and relieved of their duties by the desa pakraman (village) based upon a village forum.

Their main duty in ensuring the security of a religious ceremony are vary such as controlling the traffic at ceremonies, guarding the cockfighting held as part of ceremonies, guarding the ogoh-ogoh parade on the pangrupukan day (a day before Nyepi, Balinese New Year) and ensuring the silence on the day of Nyepi by patrolling the streets to make sure that everyone, Hindu or not, keeps their lights turned off and does not venture out into the streets.

With the passing of time, the duty of pecalang is increased day by day. The new duties assign to pecalang nowadays are conducting identity card inspection, guarding an event such as conference, musical performance, opening of a new establishment, etc. In tourism area such as Kuta and Legian they may also provide ‘protection’ for bar and nightclub owners for monetary subsidies. In Nusa Dua, pecalang receive financing from hotels in exchange for similar protection.

These new duties will obscure the position of pecalang as a guardian of Balinese ceremony, culture and identity. The pecalang are created by the village based on traditional customary law for the benefit of the whole village community. They should work solely for the benefit of society and community in socio-religious event not for benefit of other institutions in exchange for financial gain.

Penampahan galungan (A day before the great galungan day)

Penampahan Galungan, is a day before Galungan (a Christmas for Balinese). The word “Penampahan Galungan” derives from the word “tampah” which means “to slaughter” and “galungan” which means victory. So Penampahan Galungan is a day for Balinese to slay their Sad Ripu (six internal enemies, they are: kama (lust), loba (greed), krodha (anger), mada (drunkeness), moha (confusion) in order to achieve victory.

For six months Balinese engage with the battle of Dharma (Virtue) versus Adharma (Evil), and Penampahan Galungan is the last day of this great battle. On this day, Bhuta Amangkurat (King of negative force) comes to the world to temp Balinese. Amangkurat derives from the word “Mangku” which means “king”, “lord” or “master”. Bhuta Amangkurat temps human with the lust for power over others. If we were not in alert and weak, it would succeed in tempting us. On this day Bhuta Yadnya (offering for demon or other negative force) is held in Catuspata, (the houseyard), offering is distributed based on urip (special number for five direction, 4 for north, 5 for east, 7 for south, 9 for west and 8 for center) and direction, dedicated to Sang Tiga Bhuta Galungan (Three Evil force of Galungan which are Bhuta Galungan, Bhuta Dunggulan and Bhuta Amangkurat) in order to placate them so they will not disturb the human life.

But Penampahan Galungan is not just a day for ultimate struggle Dharma (Virtue) versus Adharma (Evil) but also a preparation day. On this day, Balinese are seen to be busily preparing offerings and cooking for the next day. While the women of the household have been busy for days before creating beautifully woven ‘banten‘ (offerings made from young coconut fronds), the men usually wake up well before dawn to join with their neighbours to slaughter a pig unlucky enough to be chosen to help celebrate this occasion. Then the finely diced pork is mashed to a pulp with a grinding stone, and moulded onto sate sticks that have been already prepared by whittling small sticks of bamboo. Chickens may also be chosen from the collection of free-range chickens that roam around the house compound.

Delicate combinations of various vegetables, herbs and spices are also prepared by the men to make up a selection of ‘lawar‘ dishes. While much of this cooking is for use in the offerings to be made at the family temple, by mid-morning, once all the cooking is done, it is time for the first of a series of satisfying feasts from what has been prepared. While the women continue to be kept busy with the preparations of the many offerings to be made at the family temple on the day of Galungan, the men also have another job to do this day, once the cooking is finished. A “penjor” the tall-artistically-decorated-bamboo-poles has to be made and stuck at every house-entrance adorn the along sides of the roads symbolizing prosperity.

With all those activities Penampahan Galungan will be a very busy day for Balinese. But there will always a joy in Penampahan Galungan because on the next day, (Galungan the day of victory) will be a great blessing and festivity for all Balinese.

Nyepi day

Nyepi Day is Balinese Hindu’s new year called Saka. At that time, like previous years, the majority of Balinese people are Hindu, will conduct four Brata penyepian (something are dissalowed to do): do not light a fire (amati Gni), does not work (amati karya), does not travel (amati lelungan), and does not hold entertainment (amati lelanguan).

To respect the holy days, the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission Area of Bali officially request the radio and TV not start broadcasting on that day. So, on the day of Nyepi Bali will be the silent crowd of all kinds, so that it is conducive to the Hindu (or anyone) who want to self-contemplation and introspection.

Nyepi implementation consists of a series of ceremonies that began with the Melasti ceremony conducted between three or four days before Nyepi. At the time of the Hindu Melasti ceremony pratima (personificasion power of God) and all equipment with a sincere heart, orderly to the ocean or other springs that are considered sacred to clean the pratima. The ceremony was conducted with pray together facing the sea. After the ceremony performed after the Melasti, pratima and all the equipment carried to the Central Court in Pura village to be buried.

A day before Nyepi, the Hindu ritual implement Mecaru the ceremony for harmonizing the human relationship with nature around, including the astral organism-organism called bhuta usual. The ceremony was held in the open field or cross road and environment in each home. The ceremony for the province, district da district in the tenga day is done. While the ceremonies in their respective home made the evening (sandyakala).

After mecaru, the event followed by a torch ngrupuk namely rice and sprinkle tawur encircle the house. While for the village level and train, the village or banjar three times with a torch and musical instrument. Since 1980, the ogoh-ogoh festival the colossus was done. Ogoh-ogoh funded with contributions of money and then burned it. Burning ogoh-ogoh symbolizing to netralize the elements in the evil power of the universe.

Ogoh-ogoh actually do not have a direct relationship with the Nyepi ceremony. Sculptures made with bamboo, paper, fabric and objects that it is a simple creativity and spontaneity as the pure community sense of spark blow ngrupuk to enliven the ceremony. Because there is no connection with the Hari Raya Nyepi, the ogoh-ogoh is clear that there is not absolute in the ceremony. However, objects that may be made permanent as a complement to cheer the ceremony and adjusted so that the shape, for example, that the form of giant Bhuta Kala.

The next day, Nyepi is coming. On this day do the people do not implement the four things that have been above that. With no fires (including machinery and electrical), not travel, does not work, and does not enjoy the entertainment, on the day of the Hindu people do that at the same time with contemplation upawasa (fasting) and mona Brata (not talking) for 24 hours.

Last series of the Saka New Year is the day Ngembak Geni, ie, a day after Nyepi. On the day this is the Saka New Year begins. On that day the Hindu visiting the families and neighbors, to forgive each other sorry.

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Saraswati day (day to thanks for the knowledge)

Saraswati Day is the special day of thanks for the gift of knowledge. The festive day is a time for making offerings to books and especially the sacred lontar palm leaf books. All books are subjects on this day. One is not supposed to read books, however schools have special ceremonies. Notedly, Pura Jagatnatha in Denpasar is jam packed with students praying for success in their studies in the early morning ceremony.
Here is a brief description of the Goddess Saraswati:

Saraswati is the Goddess of leaming, knowledge, and wisdom. The Sanskrit word sara means “essence” and swa means “self.” Thus Saraswati means “the essence of the self.” Saraswati is represented in Hindu mythology as the divine consort of Lord Brahma, the Creator of the universe. Since knowledge is necessary for creation, Saraswati symbolizes the creative power of Brahma. Goddess Saraswati is worshipped by all persons interested in knowledge, especially students, teachers, scholars, and scientists.

In Her popular images and pictures, Goddess Saraswati is generally depicted with four arms (some pictures may show only two arms), wearing a white sari and seated on a white lotus. She holds a book and a rosary in her rear two hands, while the front two hands are engaged in the playing of a lute (veena). Her right leg is shown slightly pushing against her left leg. She uses a swan as her vehicle. There is a peacock by her side gazing at her. This symbolism illustrates the following spiritual ideas:

The lotus is a symbol of the Supreme Reality, and a white lotus also denotes supreme knowledge. By sitting on a lotus, Saraswati signifies that She is Herself rooted in the Supreme Reality, and symbolizes supreme knowledge. The white colour symbolizes purity and knowledge. The white sari that the Goddess is wearing denotes that She is the embodiment of pure knowledge.

The four arms denote her omnipresence and omnipotence. The two front arms indicate her activity in the physical world and the two back arms signify her presence in the spiritual world. The four hands represent the four elements of the inner personality. The mind (manas) is represented by the front right hand, the intellect (buddhi) by the front left hand, the conditioned consciousness (chitta) by the rear left hand, and the ego (ahankara) by the rear right hand.

The left side of the body symbolizes the qualities of the heart and the right side symbolizes activities of the mind and intellect. A book in the rear left hand signifies that knowledge acquired must be used with love and kindness to promote prosperity of mankind.

The rosary signifies concentration, meditation, and contemplation, leading to samadhi, or union with God. A rosary in the rear right hand representing ego conveys that true knowledge acquired with love and devotion melts the ego and results in liberation (moksha) of the seeker from the bondage to the physical world.

The Goddess is shown playing a musical instrument that is held in her front hands, which denote mind and intellect. This symbol conveys that the seeker must tune his mind and intellect in order to live in perfect harmony with the world. Such harmonious living enables the individual to utilize acquired knowledge for the welfare of all mankind.

Two swans are depicted on the left side of the Goddess. A swan is said to have a sensitive beak that enables it to distinguish pure milk from a mixture of milk and water. A swan, therefore, symbolizes the power of discrimination, or the ability to discriminate between right and wrong or good and bad. Saraswati uses the swan as her carrier. This indicates that one must acquire and apply knowledge with discrimination for the good of mankind. Knowledge that is dominated by ego can destroy the world.

A peacock is sitting next to Saraswati and is anxiously waiting to serve as her vehicle. A peacock depicts unpredictable behaviour as its moods can be influenced by the changes in the weather. Saraswati is using a swan as a vehicle and not the peacock. This signifies that one should overcome fear, indecision, and fickleness in order to acquire true knowledge.

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Galungan day

Galungan is a Balinese holiday that occurs every 210 days and lasts for 10 days. Kuningan is the last day of the holiday. Galungan means “When the Dharma is winning.” During this holiday the Balinese gods visit the Earth and leave on Kuningan.

Occurring once in every 210 days in the pawukon (Balinese cycle of days), Galungan marks the beginning of the most important recurring religious ceremony that is celebrated by all Balinese in Bali or Indonesia. During the Galungan period the deified ancestors of the family descend to their former homes. They must be suitably entertained and welcomed, and prayers and offerings must be made for them. Those families who have ancestors that have not yet been cremated, but are still buried in the village cemetery, must make offerings at the graves.
Although Galungan falls on a Wednesday, most Balinese will begin their Galungan holiday the day before, where the family is seen to be busily preparing offerings and cooking for the next day. While the women of the household have been busy for days before creating beautifully woven “banten” (offerings made from young coconut fronds), the men of our village usually wake up well before dawn to join with their neighbours to slaughter a pig unlucky enough to be chosen to help celebrate this occasion. Then the finely diced pork is mashed to a pulp with a grinding stone, and moulded onto sate sticks that have been already prepared by whittling small sticks of bamboo. Chickens may also be chosen from the collection of free-range chickens that roam around the house compound. Delicate combinations of various vegetables, herbs and spices are also prepared by the men to make up a selection of lawar dishes. While much of this cooking is for use in the offerings to be made at the family temple, by mid-morning, once all the cooking is done, it is time for the first of a series of satisfying feasts from what has been prepared. While the women continue to be kept busy with the preparations of the many offerings to be made at the family temple on the day of Galungan, the men also have another job to do this day, once the cooking is finished. A long bamboo pole, or penjor, is made to decorate the entrance to the family compound. By late Tuesday afternoon all over Bali the visitor can see these decorative poles creating a very festive atmosphere in the street.

On Wednesday, the day of Galungan, one will find that most Balinese will try to return to their own ancestral home at some stage during the day, even if they work in another part of the island. This is a very special day for families, where offerings are made to God and to the family ancestors who have come back to rest at this time in their family temple. As well as the family temple, visits are made to the village temple with offerings as well, and to the homes of other families who may have helped the family in some way over the past six months.

The day after Galungan is a time for a holiday, visiting friends, maybe taking the opportunity to head for the mountains for a picnic. Everyone is still seen to be in their Sunday best as they take to the streets to enjoy the festive spirit that Galungan brings to Bali.

The date for Galungan and other special Balinese days is shown on the Balinese Calendar.

Come to Bali to see the Holiday celebration yourself.

Galungan is the most important feast for Balinese Hindus, a celebration to honor the creator of the universe (Ida Sang Hyang Widi) and the spirits of the honored ancestors.

The festival symbolizes the victory of good (Dharma) over evil (Adharma), and encourages the Balinese to show their gratitude to the creator and sainted ancestors.

Offerings to the Ancestors
Galungan occurs once in the 210-day cycle of the Balinese calendar, and marks the time of the year when the spirits of the ancestors are believed to visit the earth. Balinese Hindus perform rituals that are meant to welcome and entertain these returning spirits.

The house compounds that make up the nucleus of Balinese society come alive with devotions offered by the families living within. Families offer bountiful sacrifices of food and flowers to the ancestral spirits, expressing gratitude and hopes for protection. These sacrifices are also offered at local temples, which are packed with devotees bringing their offerings.

The whole island sprouts tall bamboo poles called "penjor" - these are usually decorated with fruit, coconut leaves, and flowers, and set up on the right of every residence entrance. At each gate, you'll also find small bamboo altars set up especially for the holiday, each one bearing woven palm-leaf offerings for the spirits.

Intensive Preparations
The preparations for Galungan begin several days before the actual feast day.

Three days before Galungan - "Penyekeban" - families begin their preparations for Galungan. "Penyekeban" literally means "the day to cover up ", as this is the day when green bananas are covered up in huge clay pots to speed their ripening.

Two days before Galungan - "Penyajahan" - marks a time of introspection for Balinese, and more prosaically, a time to make the Balinese cakes known as jaja. These colored cakes made of fried rice dough are used in offerings and are also eaten specially on Galungan. This time of the year finds a glut of jaja in every village market.

A day before Galungan - "Penampahan", or slaughter day - Balinese slaughter the sacrificial animals that will go into the temple or altar offerings. Galungan is marked by the sudden surplus of traditional Balinese food, like lawar (a spicy pork and coconut sauce dish) and satay.

On Galungan day itself, Balinese devotees pray at the temples and make their offerings to the spirits. Women are seen carrying the offerings on their heads, while men bring palm fronds.

The day after Galungan, Balinese visit their kinfolk and closest friends.

The tenth day after Galungan - "Kuningan" - marks the end of Galungan, and is believed to be the day when the spirits ascend back to heaven. On this day, Balinese make special offerings of yellow rice.

Ngelawang - Dance of the Barong
During Galungan, a ceremony known as Ngelawang is performed in the villages. Ngelawang is an exorcism ceremony performed by a "barong" - a divine protector in the form of a mythical beast.

The barong is invited into houses as he makes his way through the village. His presence is meant to restore the balance of good and evil in a house. The residents of the house will pray before the dancing barong, who will afterwards give a piece of his fur as a keepsake.

After the barong pays a visit, it is important to make an offering of a canang sari containing money.

A Treat for the Senses
While the actual festivities are open to Balinese only, tourists who visit Bali during this holiday get an eyeful of the local color.

It isn't every day you see richly-dressed women crossing the street to make food offerings to the local temple - and there's something festive about the penjor swaying in the wind everywhere you look!

During Galungan, some local restaurants ride the rising demand for Balinese food by offering specials on all sorts of native dishes. This is a great time to try Balinese food for the first time!

On the downside, many places will be closed for Galungan, as their devout Balinese employees will likely be going to their respective villages to celebrate.

As the Balinese calendar follows a 210-day cycle, Galungan happens twice a year roughly every six months. The holiday is calculated to occur on the following dates:

March 18-28, 2009
October 14-24, 2009
May 12-22, 2010
December 8-10, 2010
July 6-16, 2011
February 1-11, 2012
You might want to reserve a hotel in Bali early for these days, as holiday-goers from all over are making Galungan plans of their own!

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