A baby for the whole clan
A baby for the whole clan
I Wayan Juniartha, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali
In Bali, the birth of a baby brings joy not only to the parents
but also the entire clan. This affectionate display of communal
happiness can be seen in the traditional Balinese Hindu ritual
Ngotonin.
From a religious perspective, the ritual, which takes place
210 days after the birth of the baby, aims at giving the baby
spiritual protection and the blessing of ancestral spirits and
benign deities. Elaborate offerings, usually including two
suckling pigs, are presented to appease the Bhuta Kala (forces of
nature) in an effort to ensure the baby's health and well-being.
The most interesting part of the ritual, however, lies in its
social function as a tool to strengthen family cohesion.
"It is the baby's first public appearance. During Ngotonin,
the baby will be officially introduced to his extended family," a
happy grandmother, Ibu Della, said.
On a clear December morning, Della's face beamed with pride as
she watched her grandson, Arya Wiraguna, being prepared and
pampered for the Ngotonin.
The jovial baby sat comfortably in his mother's lap, his
innocent eyes curiously scanning the dozens of people gathered in
his family's compound in western Denpasar. Sometimes, many times,
actually, he made faces at his older sister, Diva, or his mother
before breaking into infectious laughter.
By 11 a.m. the whole clan, which included Arya's extended
family on his father's as well as his mother's side, had turned
the usually spacious and quiet compound into a cramped lot alive
with talk.
The social function of the event was particularly obvious in
the ritualistic lunch that started the ceremony. The elders from
both families sat around a wooden table facing an array of
specially prepared traditional dishes, such as the minced
vegetables and meat of Lawar and grilled satay.
A beautiful offering of fruits and flowers, or Gebogan, was
placed at the head of the table to symbolize the presence of the
divine at the lunch.
The family elders ate in silence. When they finished, each of
them poured a small cup of arak palm wine on the ground to show
their respect for Bhuta Kala.
Arya's mother, Sri Widani, then took and introduced the baby
to each of the family elders. She was followed by three women
carrying the Gebogan.
"It means that the divine spirits will always accompany the
baby in his future life as a member of this clan," Arya's father,
Muwaranata, said.
The family elders took turns picking a piece of fruit from the
Gebogan, before eating it and acknowledging the baby with a touch
or smile. They also placed a rupiah note onto a silver plate
carried by Sri.
"This signifies the clan's willingness to support and assist
the parents in bringing up the baby. From this moment, the baby's
well-being and future are the responsibility of his parents as
well as of his clan," one of the elders said.
"Thank God I had my wallet with me, or I would have
embarrassed the whole family," a young father, Yande, said.
Yande participated in the lunch on behalf of his father, who
was unable to attend.
By the time the formal introductions had been completed, Arya
had fallen contentedly asleep in his mother's arms. His handsome
face and soft breath soon drew the hushed admiration of all of
the members of the clan, who joyously welcomed the newest member.