Bali Ceremonies
Royal Cremation: Ubud
There is one thing that I encourage all visitors to Bali to do is witness a cremation. Culturally and spiritually inspirational, Balinese cremations are a colourful and, depending on the caste level, an extravaganza to rival any funeral in the world. Naturally, over the decades I have seen many but I was fortunate in the late 80’s to see preparations and then the whole funeral procession and subsequent cremation of a person of Brahma lineage. Respect for and worship of God and ancestors is the basis of the Balinese religion. The combination of Hindu elements makes the whole process a moving experience and one that is not to be missed.
Date: June 20th, 2008 |
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Tumpek Wayang
Today in Bali is Tumpek Wayang, also known as Tumpek Ringgit. It is a Kajeng Kaliwon and is of particular importance. Some areas of Bali use this day to make offerings to musical instruments and dance equipment. This day is also important for the shadow puppets, Wayang Kulit. Many families have inherited puppets from an ancestor who performed them, a dalang. All dalangs have full sets of puppets. The puppets are taken from the box, placed in a position just as if an actual performance were being given and blessed by the owner. A Dalang …
Date: May 16th, 2008 |
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Nyepi: The Balinese Day of Silence
Nyepi is the day of the year where Balinese tradition comes into direct conflict with the 21st Century. During Nyepi Day, all usual island functions stop, no one allowed outside including tourists. Thankfully most foreigners look at Nyepi as a once in a while things and a part of life in Bali. Here’s Wikipedia’s analysis of Nyepi.
Date: March 18th, 2007 |
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Bali Arts Festival Programme
The 30th Bali Arts Festival was officially opened yesterday by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and it apparently was quite a colourful affair with dignitaries present like the Minister of Culture and Tourism Jero Wacik. As I mentioned in a previous article, the month long event will feature traditional dance and drama, discussions and exhibitions as well as artist delegations from 22 countries. Unfortunately I cannot make it to festival this year due to previous commitments but for those in Bali at the moment, I strongly urge you to go and see at least some of the performances. Here’s the programme of events for the Bali Arts Festival courtesy of Bali Paradise:
Date: June 15th, 2008 |
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