Blanco's remains cremated in ritual

Blanco's remains cremated in ritual

UBUD, Bali: The late Spanish-Indonesian painter, Don Antonio
Maria Blanco, who died on Dec. 10, was cremated in a traditional
Hindu ritual of ngaben in Sayan village here on Tuesday.

The ritual was held by the Ubud royal family and attended by
hundreds of residents from two villages. Tjokorda Gde Putra
Sukawati, the son of the last Ubud King, led the procession.

"The kingdom had a very close tie with Antonio, whom my father
considered as his son," Sukawati said.

Antonio died of complications from heart and kidney diseases
at the age of 88 years. He married a local dancer, Ni Rondji, and
had four children.

The ngaben ritual of Blanco began on Dec. 23 with a rite of
passage. The ritual will end on Wednesday, and the family will
conduct a nyegara gunung ceremony, in which they will make a holy
trip to the sea and mountains. (zen/04)