Made Sipir: The quickest rain stopper in Sanur

Made Sipir: The quickest rain stopper in Sanur

NUSA DUA, Bali (JP): The modest 85-year-old man woke very early in the morning. He put on his sarong, made a fire, prepared an offering, and started working to keep away the rain.

He placed an angsara (paper believed to have power to disperse clouds) above his fire, and began reciting a sacred mantra from a book called Lontar Dasar Penerang. The fire's smoke will carry his request into the sky.

That day, Made Sipir, the rain stopper, had an order to protect a wedding ceremony in Denpasar. It rains heavily in Denpasar between January and March, but this year these months are the best months for the Balinese weddings and other ceremonies. During this time, there is an endless stream of festivals, anniversaries, celebrations, dances, dramas and offerings.

Partying in the rain is no fun, so the Balinese employ a rain stopper.

Made Sipir is one of them.

This rainy season he may get as many as 50 orders a month. He is the best known rain stopper in Sanur.

When not taming the rain, he spends his day attending to sick people. The old man does not like being called a balian (healer), even though he can heal people who are sick from natural causes or black magic. He insists he is an ordinary man, and refuses any title.

He has had his head in the clouds for more than 50 years. He says a rain stopper can only work within a particular radius. His 10 kilometer sphere covers Denpasar seven kilometers away but does not reach Nusa Dua 15 km away.

People in Nusa Dua, including the hoteliers, usually use the services of a rain stopper living in the nearby Bualu village. The Balinese believe only locals can control their respective areas. If outside rain stoppers are hired, there is always the possibility that the local rain stopper will become jealous and order a heavy downpour.

Made Sipir, originally from Karang Asem in East Bali, said he once returned to his hometown to give his rain-stopping services. A local rain stopper, who deemed Made Sipir an outsider, became angry and undermined Sipir's work.

Sipir said that when he was working, a triangle black clouds called Nyepak Telu appeared.

These clouds are hard to tame, however, with his superior powers, Made Sipir was able to chase the clouds away.

The Bali Hyatt Hotel in Sanur always uses Made Sipir's services before outdoor functions.

"Made Sipir once misunderstood our order. He thought that a function would be held in the morning, while it was to be held at 7 o'clock in the evening," said Suja, the Food & Beverage Coordinator of Bali Hyatt.

"We were holding a fashion show and the tickets were sold out. It had rained cats and dogs since 5:00 p.m. We were very anxious and rushed to Made Sipir's house and found him sleeping," Suja said.

Sipir's power was proven when he stopped the rain in five minutes.

"It did not rain around the Bali Hyatt Hotel. The fashion parade proceeded even though we had to work hard with the wet chairs," Suja recalled.

"Pak Sipir is a modest man and he doesn't talk much," Suja said, adding that the hotel usually pays him Rp 300,000 (US$130) for each event.

-- Intan Petersen