Balinese spiritually purify bomb site

Balinese spiritually purify bomb site

I Wayan Juniartha, The Jakarta Post, Kuta, Bali

Thousands of people gathered along the southern end of Jl.
Legian here on Friday evening to witness the sacred Hindu rituals
Byakaon, Durmanggala and Prayascita, held to purify and
energize both the physical and spiritual realms in and around the
site where more than 180 people died in last Saturday night's
bombing.

The rituals were performed by the traditional customary
village of Desa Adat Kuta.

"Balinese people firmly believe that Sekala --the physical
world -- where we live, is continually connected to Niskala --
the spiritual realm. When bad things happen in one of the realms,
then it will also affect the other realm. The occurrence of
violent death is believed to be one of the worst things that can
Ngeletehin -- disturb the balance and desecrate the place and
people of both realms," Ketut Sumarta, an expert in Balinese
culture and their belief system, told The Jakarta Post.

"In Legian more than 100 people suffered a violent death, so
the local people believe that they must deal with desecration and
imbalance of a terrifying magnitude. Thus, a purification
ceremony must be held as soon as possible," Sumarta said.

The rituals were officiated over by 19 pemangku (temple
priests) from the Kahyangan Tiga (three main temples) of Kuta.

Wearing traditional Balinese costumes, those taking part in
the rituals sat a few meters from the epicenter of the blast. A
number of them continuously chanted the solemn song of Kidung,
praising the almighty power and infinite blessing of the gods,
while the pemangku prepared the offerings.

When the Kidung ended, with the fragrant smell of incense
hovering in the air, they began praying together, asking for
forgiveness and pleading to the gods to restore the purity and
spiritual energy of the place.

The highlight of the rituals was when all of the pemangku
rose, walked into the blast site and sprinkled Tirta (holy water)
over the ground before sprinkling it over the people.

"We use six different Tirta, including from the Uluwatu,
Petitenget and Dalem Peed temples on Nusa Penida island, where
Ratu Gede Dalem Peed, the most powerful spiritual protector of
Bali, resides," the head pemangku, Wayan Purna, said.

Earlier in the morning, the Guru Piduka and Bendu Piduka
rituals were performed in all temples in the Kuta area.

The evening ritual was also attended by hundreds of Muslims
and Christians, who joined their Hindu brothers and sisters in
prayer at the end of the rituals.

"We invited them to join this ritual in an effort to show the
world that the bomb explosion was not only a tragedy for the
Hindus, but also for the Muslims and Christians," the head of
Desa Adat Kuta, Made Wendra, said.

A larger purification ritual, the Tawur Agung, will be held on
Nov. 15. Families of the bombing victims, particularly those from
Australia, will be invited to attend the ceremony.

The Tawur Agung ritual will be held to further purify and
restore the balance between the physical and spiritual realms at
the bomb site, and simultaneously guide the souls of the victims
into a higher realm of consciousness.

"Each hotel in Kuta has pledged 10 rooms, free of charge, for
the victims' families who plan to attend the ritual," Wendra
said.