{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1618022,
        "msgid": "melasti-ceremony-at-kuta-beach-captivates-tourists-1773672771",
        "date": "2026-03-16 21:19:12",
        "title": "Melasti ceremony at Kuta Beach captivates tourists",
        "author": "",
        "source": "DETIK_BALI",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Anthropology",
        "summary": "The Melasti ceremony held by Kuta Traditional Village at Kuta Beach attracted numerous tourists keen to witness the ritual purification procession that precedes the Balinese Nyepi holiday. International visitors and expatriates expressed fascination with the solemn and beautiful ceremonial proceedings, particularly the procession of community members carrying ceremonial offerings on their heads, with each traditional village returning to its own area following the ritual.",
        "content": "<p>The Melasti ceremony held by Kuta Traditional Village at Kuta Beach\ndrew considerable attention from tourists. Many visitors flocked to\nwitness the ritual purification procession that forms part of the\nlead-up to the sacred Nyepi day.<\/p>\n<p>Among them were Jane, 45, and Chelsea, 37, Canadian tourists on a\ntwo-week holiday in Bali. Upon visiting Kuta Beach, the two happened\nupon the Melasti procession taking place.<\/p>\n<p>Both said they were already aware of Nyepi, yet were unaware of the\nceremonial preparations preceding Nyepi, such as Melasti.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe know about the Nyepi tradition, but we didn\u2019t know there was a\nceremony like this,\u201d said Jane on Monday, 16 March 2026.<\/p>\n<p>This was their second visit to Bali. However, it was the first time\nthey directly witnessed the Melasti procession. According to them, the\natmosphere of the ceremony felt very peaceful and beautiful.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is very peaceful and beautiful,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>From the start of the procession, they said they were captivated,\nparticularly towards the end of the event when they saw a parade of\ncommunity members walking together towards Pura Desa Adat Kuta while\ncarrying various ceremonial offerings on their heads.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen all the groups gathered and walked together carrying something\non their heads,\u201d said Chelsea.<\/p>\n<p>A similar sentiment was expressed by Ogi, 35, a man from Jakarta who\nworks in Bali. Although he has lived in the Renon area for five years,\nhe said it was his first time witnessing the Melasti procession directly\nand that he felt fortunate.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWell, I\u2019ve been living here for a long time, but this is the first\ntime I\u2019ve had the chance to see Melasti up close, and it\u2019s really\nexciting,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>According to him, the Melasti procession felt very solemn as each\ntraditional village carried their own offerings before returning to\ntheir respective areas.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was very moving that each traditional village brought their own\nofferings and then returned to their own places \u2013 that was really cool,\u201d\nhe said.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/melasti-ceremony-at-kuta-beach-captivates-tourists-1773672771",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}