Tipat-Bantal War, a Unique Tradition at Kapal Village

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When thrown at something, one will be definitely upset. Even, not a few are offended to result in revenge. However, this one is different where the local community throws tipat-bantal at each other while dancing merrily. Moreover, those exposed to the toss will dance following the music without any ambition or revenge.
It is a brief description on the tipat-bantal carried out by Kapal village, Mengwi subdistrict, Badung, Tuesday (Oct 14). This tradition is regularly held every year in Sasih Kapat, around September to October. This tradition is closely related to farming life of Kapal village implemented as an expression of gratitude to God for the abundant harvest at the village.
The implementation is centered at Desa and Puseh Temple. Tipat (diamond-shaped rice bag) is interpreted as a symbol of feminine energy (pradhana) and bantal (Balinese long glutinous cake) as a symbol of masculine energy (purusha) represented by the presence of mother earth or the earth in physical form as the soil. The resulted food is the main weapon to defend the life itself.
The tipat-bantal war tradition this year became more unique since it was collaborated with the art composition. A dance drama composition choreographed by Anak Agung Gede Rahma Putra was presented with the storyline about the origin of the war. The composition presented Baris Bantal and Rejang Tipat Dance by teen artists. Its musical accompaniment used selonding gamelan set so that it gave a regal and classical impression.
The composition told about the arrival of Ki Kebo Iwa on the assignment of the King of Bali, Asta Sura Ratna Bhumi Banten to repair the Purusadha Temple at Kapal village. However, once upon a time the Kapal village was found in famine condition, where people had no food and it led to chaos and pathetic condition.
Ki Kebo Iwa eventually invoked an instruction to the Creator by meditation at the Purusadha Temple. In his meditation, he got a revelation from Hyang Pasupati instructing the local residents to implement the Aci Rah Pengangon or Aci Rare Angon by presenting tipat-bantal. Both offerings served as the symbol of the source of life because the cause of the famine was in the absence of the source of life.
Since then, the ritual was routinely implemented where people gathered in front of the Desa Temple of Kapal village. Local people then divided themselves into two groups, each of which held tipat and bantal as weapon. Baleganjur gamelan music and the sound of kulkul or wooden split drum accompanied the war. After an instruction from local village apparatus, both groups then attacked each other by throwing the tipat-bantal.
At the beginning, the war took place in the middle courtyard of the temple and then it was resumed to outer courtyard, highway of Kapal village. The tipat or bantal was just like a bullet dashing so quickly. People who became throwers were trance-like and striking blindly. Even, many of them were topless, but still put on customary clothing such as headband, fabrics and selempot.
Although having to throw in one direction, namely northward and southward, some ignorantly threw towards people who witnessed the war tradition. However, they were all excited and happy. Interestingly, despite attacking and throwing each other with tipat and bantal, none would get wound or injury. Even, they vivaciously expressed more laughter.
The war lasted for about 30 minutes and then ended with a mutually shaking hands and forgiving. All the residents then cleared the path from the remnants of the tipat and bantal. Residents were also advised to take some pieces of the tipat and bantal to take home, and then spread in the moors and paddy fields.
Chief of Kapal customary village, Anak Agung Gede Dharmayasa, said that taking some pieces of tipat and bantal to the home symbolized a request that all residents could still be bestowed with the abundance of fertility, food and welfare. “This is a form of respect for the universal energy creating the life and a procession to preserve the life survival with the concept of keeping the motherland, as the land is a tangible manifestation of the giver and sustainer of life for every creature on this earth,” he said.
Kapal village, he explained, had a total of 2,247 families spreading across 18 customary hamlets. For this event, each family was required to submit 1 kg of rice or sticky rice. From this submission, the village could collect at least 1,800 kg or 1.8 tons of tipat and bantal. “It is also in part because some are not coming,” he added.http://www.bali-travelnews.com/Art-and-Cultural

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Body painting enlivens the seventeenth NDF

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The prestigious Nusa Dua Fiesta (NDF) was enlivened by various interesting activities drawing the attention of visitors. For instance, there were 28 local and international artists and models who voluntarily participated in the body painting event that also jazzed up the inauguration of the seventeenth annual Nusa Dua Fiesta, Monday (Oct 13). Body painting has its own charm, which is sometimes underestimated. As a matter of fact, the art of painting with the medium of human body has its own difficulties compared to the use of painting media such as canvas.
Chairman of the Nusa Dua Fiesta 2014 Organizing Committee, Ida Bagus Abdhi, explained that the body painting for this year was adjusted to the NDF theme namely Love, Peace and Harmony that would be painted by local artists. “Hopefully, all the artists getting involved could express their artistic capability on the models’ body according to this theme,” he said. Later, he added, that the jury would select three of the models and artists. “Criteria for the assessment related to our theme namely Love, Peace and Harmony, the quality of the art and aesthetic of the painting results that may not contain any elements of pornography at all,” he said.
Meanwhile, Jango Paramartha, a local artist, on that occasion said that the body painting contained a touch of contemporary art. “What we are doing is far from pornography because it is an improvisation originally expressed on canvas as the medium. Then, it is replaced with one’s body,” he said.
According to him, the art of body painting could only be produced in Indonesia if did not go  up against the laws on pornography. In Bali, the art of body painting demonstrated that the artists were given the freedom to express their own creativity.
Dewa Jodi who had already participated in the body painting event of the Nusa Dua Fiesta claimed that this art form has its own intrinsic challenges.. Other than the difficulty of making the paint stick to the skin when painting the clothes worn by the model, the paint also quickly gets absorbed so that a lot of paint is required for the colors to remain bright.
“It is also difficult, sir, compared to painting on canvas because the paint cannot have texture onthe skin. Much paint is required especially when painting on T-shirts which absorbes so much moisture” said Jodi.
Meanwhile, Vinka who twice acted as a model, claimed that being a model in the body painting event was quite tiresome. “It’s tiring to stand for so long and sometimes the paintbrush is ticklish.” she said.

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Lovina Festival Presents Sacred Art

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50 Yachts from 12 Countries Participate in Sail Indonesia    

Sail Indonesia will be held coinciding with the Lovina Festival on Thursday (Sep 25). This international event involved totally 50 yachts from 12 countries around the world. The yachts are ready to moor on Lovina Beach, Buleleng. “Today, dozens of yachts have moored,” said the Head of Buleleng Culture and Tourism Agency, Ketut Warkadea, while giving a press conference, Tuesday (Sep 23).
Warkadea said that the government had made data collection of the yachts having moored on Lovina Beach. The crews also began to administer their visa in the Immigration Office of Singaraja. They were mostly from Australia, while others from Germany, Malta, Spain, the United States, New Zealand, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, France, Belgium and Canada.
He was optimistic that the Sail Indonesia 2014 could provide economic impact on the community in supporting the tourism area of Lovina. Although the crews did not stay at hotels existing at Lovina, the yacht crews were admitted to give micro-economic impact on the buffer zone of Lovina.
In other words, their sojourn would generate transaction at traditional market. Here, the crews of the yachts began hunting groceries for their voyage needs to Karimun Jawa on Sunday (Sep 28). In addition, they also bought mineral water in bulk and gases, including fuel. Everything had been well coordinated by the headman of Kalibukbuk.
Besides, they also took some tour packages. The most wanted package tour was the one-day city tour program. The package itself had been widely sold by tourism practitioners around the Binaria Beach at Lovina. “If Lovina is nice and safe, they will surely promote it by word of mouth, including posting the experience on their blogs. This can be a trip reference in the future. On that account, we hope there is a support from the community and media partners,” said Warkadea.
Related to Lovina Festival, Warkadea ensured there would be a different atmosphere. All the yacht crews dropping in at Lovina would be graced with Lovina Festival in different nuance from the previous one. Last year, they were entertained with the Sang Hyang Memedi Dance, but this year they would be jazzed up with the Sang Hyang Legong Dedari Dance, where they were equally categorized into sacred dance.
“There are many additional activities, such as culinary exhibition of the Indonesia Hotels and Restaurants Association (PHRI), photography competition, free satay distribution and kite fighting games. Indeed, we still maintain some activities,” said the man doubling as Chief of the Kubutambahan customary village. (BTN/015)http://www.bali-travelnews.com

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