Bali Travel Info

6 Balinese Ceremonies that you only see and experience on the island of Bali

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When I heard somebody say this, "I am just so tired of Bali, and I will go to somewhere else” . “I have been so many times, nothing new anymore.”

Obviously, this is the kind of guy who probably doesn’t even know where are the tours, events, and activity sites.

I asked him, where did you go and what did you do while you were on the island?
I challenged him, have you ever diving?, snorkeling?, Bungee jumping? Climbing the Agung mountain? Paragliding? Attending a trance ceremony in the temple? Attending the Balinese tradition, Attending any temple festival ceremony? Rice field Cycling?

Bali is not only about beaches, luxury hotels, spas, and shopping. Bali offers more than just the luxurious. If you missed some of Bali’s magic and Bali’s unique traditions, you should make your next flight reservation. Bali can transport you to a special place you have never experienced before. Bali is a magical island and the only one in this world. It is worth to experience Bali at least once in your lifetime.

“Bali for me, is not so much about seeing and doing, there’s plenty to see and do, but feeling the place.” Traveler

These 6 Balinese traditions that your travel guides have never told you before: 

1.      Siat Sampian (the symbolic war to fight adharma/ evils)

This is  a spectacular event you don’t want to miss.

 The Siat Sampian has been done traditionally from generations to generation in Samuan Tiga temple in Bedulu community, Gianyar regency.  It’s believed as a sacred ceremony, and should be carried out every year in Bedulu.  The community believes, by doing this ceremony every year, that is a goal to maintain balance  and prosperity of humans and nature.

A few days before the ‘symbolic’ war, hundreds of women, carrying tall offerings (banten) on their heads, walk four kilometers to the temple. Men and women dressed very fine in white.

The philosophy drawn from this tradition is to beat / beat Adharma or evil from the earth. In addition to images of war against crime, SIAT sampian also to celebrate the coming together of various religious sects (Hindu) in Bali, in addition to pleading welfare and unseen. Siat sampian means to purify Bhuana Agung (universe) and Bhuana Alit (body). 

Tradition Siat sampian is a tradition which is made into a war in an atmosphere of play. The weapon used to strike is called sampian janur circuit. Performances are held in a series of ceremonies in the temple ceremony Samuan Tiga, Bedulu,Gianyar  is done by women or men who have been chosen by temple spirits, means designated by Ida Batara through consecrated  ceremony. The players do Siat, attacking each other and at each other regardless of their opponent and friend. The show is held  every year, three days after the ceremony the peak (around full moon Jiyestha) April or May.

Beginning with nampiog, are dancing around the temple 11 times clockwise (purwa daksina).The next activity is only done in Jaba the middle (central courtyard) with ngombak or imitate the movement of the waves. The players lined up with each other holding hands, back and forth in front pelingih/ shrine. Shaped like nets in comparison with the game "Savior Scatter".Movement is done repeatedly, then followed with ngindang, fly like a bird and took sampian of a particular shrine. Each player takes a sampian (sometimes permitted two), then immediately held Siat or war.

Performances in the playful atmosphere are two stages by different groups, a group of women called Jro Permas and groups of men called Parekan. Permas Jro total membership of approximately 35 people, while Parekan group consisting of hundreds of people. Performing the first phase done Jero Permas longer than the next stage, which is carried out by Parekan. The series of events began when a group of women sunrise until nearly noon.

.   2.Magoak-Goakan

Megoak-Goakan is the evidence of the rich culture and tradition of Bali that still retained its preservation until today. Megoak-Goakan is a traditional dance of the people, especially the typical village of Panji which is usually performed ahead of Nyepi arrived. (Balinese new year)

Why Megoak-Goakan? Megoak-Goakan name itself is taken from the name of Crow (Goak gallant) inspired when I saw this bird was eyeing its prey. Megoak-Goakan activity itself is a re-staging of the heroic history of Barak Ki Panji Sakti, known as the Hero of Buleleng when the conquered kingdom of Blambangan in East Java.

In the tradition of old-fashioned game, the team consists of 11 participants against other groups with the same number. For a more orderly, then the game is governed by pecalang arena. Mentioned philosophy of this game, as a form of pradana purusa (male against female). Mentioned, in one Goak group consists of eleven people. While the determination of the victory is a group Goak-goakan the first time were able to catch the tail (the rearmost) in his group. Then he was the winner.

The game is all about intimacy and harmony between the players to win the game.  

Location

The Megoak-Goakan dance is celebrated in the village of Panji, District Sukasada approximately 6 km to the south of Singaraja.  This tradition also can be found in Kintamani, Bangli regency.

3. Nyabung tradition , maintaining the balance of Microcosm and Macrocosm

The Nyabung is a traditional ceremony is held prior to the Balinese new year or tahun  Saka, every year based on the Balinese calendar.  On this special day the community members of Subagan village gather in the community center or temple.  The villagers bring their special offerings (rice shape of the diamond made of coconut leaves) where the activity characterizes by youth who wearing a black and white bandana on their head and run to chase animals in the waterfront area South) to the edge of the village (North).  The animals are caught for their next offerings in the temple.   The meaning of this ritual is a sincere sacrifice of their times,  how to raise their animals by free cages (mainly chickens).  

  4. Aci Tetebahan

Aci Tatebahan tradition is  about how the Balinese to express their gratitude to God. The Bugbug indigenous village, Karangasem gathering in the center of the village,  The ceremony is  held as a thanksgiving ceremony to God  for the abundant crops of the season.  Aci Tatebahan is held every year on full moon based on the Balinese calendar (Sasih jhista, Beteng).  

Location: 

Bugbug village Karangasem, Bali

This ritual is unique, because in practice resident at each other tooth and nails using the stem of a banana tree to pieces.

Before the implementation of this ritual, every village people in Bugbug prepare the necessary equipment, such as banana trunk (papah biu) as much as they need,  firewood, coconut, tapioca/cassava, vegetables, beans, and other things.  All these equipments will be processed into gibungan, with refined traditional cuisine consisting of cassava as a substitute for the rice, vegetables, nuts, and other traditional dishes.  All these foods will be offered to God and will eat by the community members and their family after the ceremony.

5. Melasti Ceremony

Melasti ceremony is one of the Balinese religious ceremonies  to purify Bhuana Alit (microcosm) and Bhuana Agung (macrocosm). This ceremony is performed with a parade procession followed by thousand of community members by bringing all the sacraments and the symbol of the gods to the sea or other water sources that are believed by Hindus as a place to purify all the elements of this universe. The usual symbols of gods brought to the sea like Keris, spears, banners (Umbul-umbul), statues, Barong etc. This procession is one of the unique Hindu ceremonies where the procession was followed by thousands of Hindus who wear the clothes and other accessories in white to indicate the purity.

The purpose of the ceremony is to purify Bhuana Alit (macrocosm) and Bhuana Agung (macrocosm) from bad influences, bad deeds and bad thoughts. Bhuana Alit  means the heart / soul of each individual who lives in this world while Bhuana Agung was the wide world or this universe (Macrocosm). 

Melasti ceremony is held once a year to  welcome  Nyepi Day / Silent Day of Balinese new year.  Melasti procession is usually held four / three days before Nyepi / Silent Day based on the Balinese Calendar.   Where?  You will see the Melasti ceremony all over Bali’s beaches and water sources.

6. Nyepi /silent Day and Ogoh-Ogoh

Bali Day of Silence... Nyepi perhaps most exciting ritual you want to experience on the island.

Through three days of ritual, the Balinese cleanses the land, their bodies and spirits. Finally, on the eve of the Nyepi, Balinese new year, a colorful and noisy procession of giant papier-mache monsters called ogoh-ogoh winds through the streets.

Nyepi Day in Bali is a New Year celebration unlike anywhere else on the planet. Bali’s celebrates the Saka New Year as the Bali Day of Silence, an ultimately quietest day of the year, when all of the island's inhabitants abide by a set of local rules, which brings all routine activities to a complete halt. Roads all over Bali are void of any traffic and nobody steps outside of their home premises.

Most Balinese and visitors regard it as a much-anticipated occasion. 

Nyepi is worth experiencing at least once in a lifetime, especially since the preceding and following days offer rare highlights to behold.

The unique day of silence marks the turn of the Saka calendar of western Indian origin, one among the many calendars assimilated by Indonesia’s diverse cultures, and among two jointly used in Bali. The Saka is 78 years behind the International calendar, and follows a lunar sequence. Nyepi follows after a new moon.

Village meeting halls known as ‘banjar’ and streets feature papier-mâché effigies called ogoh-ogoh, built throughout the weeks leading up to the Saka New Year. Youth groups design and build their mythical figures with intricately shaped and tied bamboo framework before many layers of artwork. These artistic creations are offshoots of the celebration since its dawning in the early 80s, which stayed on to become an inseparable element in the island-wide celebration that is Nyepi Eve.

Before ‘the silence’, highlight rituals essentially start three days prior to Nyepi, with colourful processions known as the Melasti pilgrimages. Pilgrims from various village temples all over Bali convey heirlooms on long walks towards the coastlines where elaborate purification ceremonies take place.

Don't worry if you missed out on this year's. Plan ahead for next year’s Saka New Year 1940, on March 17, 2018.

Stay tuned for the following years' Nyepi dates:

• March 7, 2019
• March 24, 2020
• March 14, 2021
• March 3, 2022
• March 22, 2023
• March 11, 2024
• March 29, 2025