Ancestors Day in Sakti, Bali

The preparations for this day were dramatic and humorous for us as we joined our host family to celebrate Galungan Day in the village we were privileged to stay for one week in October.

After walking about half a mile through the village we are greeted at Pura (Temple) Dalem Bentuyung. The whole village has come for this day of greeting the spirits of ancestors with food and prayers. Both Ellen and I were very moved as we greeted and were greeted by Ellen's father's family in these temples. Here is the procedure for the ceremony that we participated.

Prayer ceremony follows these steps:

1. ‘Wash’ your hands and face in the smoke from the incense.
2. Close your eyes and pray with empty hands – your palms should be pressed together and held at forehead height with your thumbs almost touching your head.
3. Cleanse a flower in the incense smoke and hold it between your fingertips for the next prayer. This step is repeated usually 3 times but sometimes more. This is directed by the pemangku so again, watch what others are doing and follow.
4. Put the flower in your hair, behind your ear, or discard it on the ground in front of you.
5. The final prayer is with empty hands again.
6. Wait for the pemangku to come and sprinkle holy water on you. When he/she approaches, put your hands in the air and bow your head.
7. After being sprinkled with holy water, you need to hold your cupped hands out, right over left, to accept more holy water. Drink 3 times and pour the final water over your head.
8. Take a pinch of bija (wet rice grains) with your right hand and place in your left palm. This rice should be placed on your forehead and throat and a few grains should be eaten.
9. When the people around you start getting up, follow them to the next prayer location.

Wayan Lisih helping me with the water purification ceremony.

 

 Ellen, Wayan Adi, and Lon at the gate to the temple. Adi is always greeting us in the mornings during breakfast that is prepared by his mother Wayan Sukaniti and his grandmother Madi, Wayan Lisih does his part as well. Do you like my sarong? Ellen's dress is purple of course.

 Wayan Lisih and Wayan Adi laughing together at the temple gate.

Cousins of the family at the temple.

 Wayan Lisih and Lon are having a post ceremony feast at his family's home. Lisih's father, mother, and 6 uncles live here. Check out my Balinese Udeng (headdress) required for the ceremonies.

Wayan Lisih and Wayan Sukaniti transporting food to Sukaniti's home and to the temple.

Happy Galungan Day 4

After lunch we walk the short mile back to our cottage for a swim and rest. In the middle of my nap I wake to the songs of gongs and drums. Wow, there is a group of young lion dancers, a band, and their leader inside our compound.

Happy Galungan Day 3

From the temples we walk to Wayan Lisih's home for some noon food.





Wayan Lisih's cousin.





Wayan Lisih's home compound includes his father's house and the houses of six uncles. All of his aunts live with their husband's families.


Lisih's mother who made us wonderful rice wine pudding.

Happy Galungan Day 2

We visit three temples starting first with the rice goddess temple.

Happy Galungan Day 1

This morning we dress and walk together to the temple for prayers to renew the universe.

Galungan

Every 210 days in the Hindu calendar of Bali the ancestral spirits visit earth. Today is the day, and we will dress to go to the temple this morning, have a procession at about noon, and dine with the family this evening.
The streets of this village, Sakti, are lined with Penjor in front of every home. Wayan Lisih and his father-in-law were creating theirs when we arrived Sunday morning, now it is standing by the front gate.




They have a special Penjor for a newly married couple up the street that we may meet today.




This festival lasts for about 12 days. It will end on November 2 when the spirits return to their home. There will also be a large cremation in the center of Ubud on that day.

Cock Fight Sakti

The small village here had a cock fight today. It was a men only affair, yes only stupid men betting on the life and death of the poor critters, and it is a fight to death.






They tie these knives onto the left legs of the cocks.


Then they introduce the tow cocks to each other.



Then the bets, and if there are not equal bets they disqualify the challenger.


The they release the cocks. Two of the tree fights I watched lasted 30 seconds or less.


Many of the bets were 1,000,000 Rupiah or more which is about $100.