Jakarta's Hindus celebrate 'Tawur Kasanga' ritual
Jakarta's Hindus celebrate 'Tawur Kasanga' ritual
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Clad in gold and white, about 2,500 people sat neatly in rows
under a 100-meter wide tent, praying for nature's balance on
Thursday, the eve of the Hindu Day of Silence, or Nyepi.
The Tawur Agung Kasanga ceremony, held at a cordoned-off road
in front of the Amerta Jati temple in Cinere, South Jakarta,
included a grandiose three-by-three meter sacrificial offering
intended to appease the supernatural forces in the universe
before the start of the Saka New Year, which coincides with
Nyepi.
"We have troubled the forces and nature for a year," said Ida
Bagus Supriyadi, who traveled from Bekasi with his wife and three
children to participate in the four-hour ceremony. "Now is the
time to show our thanks and reharmonize."
The ceremony began at around 10:00 a.m., marked by the
entrance of dozens of worshippers carrying offerings accompanied
by traditional Balinese gamelan music.
Afterwards, with the scent of incense pervading through the
hot and humid air, the worshippers silently prayed, bowing their
heads and lifting their pressed palms in unison, thankful for the
blessings of the past year and hoping that the equilibrium
between man and nature could be reestablished for the new year.
At noon, priests and priestesses sprinkled holy water on the
sitting or kneeling worshipers three times. Then they distributed
six servings of the water to each worshiper: three for washing
and three for drinking.
Supriyadi, dressed in white, with a gold sarong wrapped around
his waist and a headband, cupped his hands together to receive
the holy water from a priest.
The 48-year-old cleansed himself by washing his head and face
with the water and purified his soul by imbibing more water.
"Believe it or not, it doesn't taste salty at all," said
Supriyadi, referring to the water which was taken during the
Melasti ceremony from the Java Sea. "It is just a small sign of
the magnanimity of God."
Then Supriyadi, who had flower petals behind his ears,
received grains of rice, some of which he swallowed and some of
which he put on his forehead so that he would not forget that
life is made possible because it is sustained by the earth.
Children of all ages also solemnly partook in the ceremony,
which ended at 1:00 p.m. Those who were still too small to
perform the rituals were helped by their parents.
Yanto, 24, one of an estimated 20,000 Hindus living in
Jakarta, said he was proud to be able to take part in the
ceremony as it meant he was continuing the traditions of his
ancestors.
"Hinduism is an ancient and mystical religion," said Yanto,
who is originally from East Java. "It was one of the first and
great religions in Indonesia."
Thursday's ceremony is one of four celebrations held during
the week around Nyepi by the 4 million Hindus throughout
Indonesia.
On Tuesday, during the Melasti ceremony, worshippers,
accompanied by traditional Balinese gamelan music, formed a
procession from a temple in Cilincing, North Jakarta, which
headed to the Java Sea. Once there, they performed a communal
prayer toward the ocean and purified themselves and their temple
accessories.
On Friday, on the Day of Silence or Nyepi, Hindus spend 24
hours, from sunrise to today's sunrise, in silent contemplation
to realign their minds and spirits with the universe. During this
time, which falls on the first day of the Saka New Year, they
faithfully abided by the four prohibitions of Nyepi: Not to use
fire or electricity, not to partake in any physical activity, not
to leave their homes, and not to enjoy any form of entertainment
or pleasure.
Today, during what is known as Ngembak Geni, Hindus visit
neighbors, friends and family to ask for forgiveness for the past
year's faults.
"To us, the celebrations around Nyepi are like what Christmas
is for Christians and Idul Fitri for Muslims," said Supriyadi.
"It is a time for spiritual renewal and to gather with family and
friends." (002)