Traditional Rituals in Bali You Should Know About

The majority of Balinese people are Hindus. They believe that the deceased should be cleansed by fire before being sent to the other side. This belief translates into a ceremony called ngaben, the cremation of the deceased during a special ritual on specific dates chosen by the elders. For the Balinese, this ceremony is considered a joyous occasion as families let their loved ones go to nirvana. Families aren’t even advised to cry at all.

This ceremony is performed when a Balinese reaches puberty. The teeth-cutting ceremony, or Mepandes, is conducted to eliminate common vices like greed, lust, anger, and jealousy. Boys and girls engage in a special religious rite before their front teeth are scraped by elders as a symbol of letting go of their harsh nature, concluding with a prayer to ask for blessings.

A religious/cultural tradition of self-harm or piercing is evident in many cultures in Indonesia. On Bali, the ritual is called ngurek. Although practiced by different cultures and religions, the rituals are based on the same principle of faith, and are seen as an extreme demonstration of total belief in God. Participants believe that God will protect them from harm, even if they attempt to pierce, stab, or otherwise hurt themselves. This ritual is often held in public places for other people to see.

The Melasti ceremony is held before the Balinese day of silence (Nyepi), when the locals refrain from any non-prayer activity, including working and cooking. The Melasti ceremony is an opportunity to cleanse the soul with water, so is conducted on beaches and lakes. It is elaborate and involves intricate steps and symbols, including dipping the body in the water while wearing a beautiful prayer outfit and praying.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSIMjXjBNYx/