Pasemaya a Hinduism-inspired Cultural Event

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This is the way how the students of the Faculty of Dharma Acharya of the State Hindu Dharma Institute (IHDN) of Denpasar preserve the culture of Bali. Various types of competitions are held by involving younger generation ranging from the elementary, junior high, high school/vocational school to college students. “The competition is an effort to encourage young generation to remember and learn about the culture of Bali as the Balinese character from the past,” said Dr. I Nyoman Linggih, the Dean of the FDA amid the competition, Sunday (Apr. 12).

Chairman of the Committee, I Wayan Erik Indrawan, said the contest lasting for three days presented the exhibition, art, religion and culture (Pasemaya). “As the student organization (Orkesmas), we are very concerned with Balinese culture so that we organize the event annually coupled with the anniversary of the Faculty of Dharma Acharya,” he explained.
The Pasemaya is held for three days namely on April 10-12. For this year, the competition includes the religious pop songwriting, ngelawar (Balinese delicacy preparation), mereraosan (proposing a girl), Balinese theater, short story writing and Balinese script writing on paper for elementary and junior high school across Bali. There are also Hinduism Olympic, Balinese storytelling and Balinese script writing on palm leaf for high school students. On the peak of the event was held the selection of the Dharma Acharya Faculty Students Beauty pageant.www.bali-travelnews.com

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Neka Art Museum

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A Collection of 300 Keris Daggers starts from a Belief

Have you ever been to Neka Art Museum? The museum is located in the tourist area of Ubud. The museum having become a tourist attraction draws many travelers. It was established in 1978 and inaugurated by the Minister of Education and Culture Daoed Joesoef on July 7, 1982. In the jubilee of the Neka Art Museum (July 7, 2007), the museum belonging to Pande Wayan Neka Suteja is equipped with the collection of kris dagger.
It is said the concept of adding the kris dagger was inspired by the conviction of Pande Wayan Suteja Neka as the founder and director. When his wife Ni Gusti Made Srimin was sick, he had to struggle to make her recover. Therefore, he had to treat her to Singapore. Other than being tough, he was also very confident that his wife would certainly recover. Indeed because of his optimism, Ni Gusti Made Srimin finally recovered.
Seeing the endless struggles and prayers of her husband, Ni Gusti Made Srimin then paid tribute to her husband as an expression of gratitude. The award was in the form of moral support to make anything related to the Neka Art Museum. “Due to similar conviction, I also ask to be given the opportunity to collect kris dagger,” said Pande Wayan Suteja Neka.
Expansion to keris collection of the Neka Art Museum was officially opened by Jero Wacik, Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia  (July 22, 2007). The launch was also done by Prof. Dr. Tommy Koh, Chairman of the National Heritage Board and Ambassador - At - Large in the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs, Singapore. It was enabled because Suteja Neka is the Member of the Singapore Art Museum Board.
The Neka Art Museum displaying approximately 300 pieces of kris dagger including 27 pieces of heirloom kris, 100 old blades made by kris makers in the past (tangguh tua) and the remaining recent collection made by outstanding kris makers (tangguh Kamardikan). As a collector of kris dagger, Suteja Neka does not feel competent enough to reveal the existence of each kris dagger. “I feel the presence of vibration and intensity of the kris daggers,” he said.
According to this achiever of the Keris for the World and SNKI Award, in essence, there are two important reasons becoming the concept in developing the kris. They include the intention to spread information about the kris dagger as an artwork of Indonesian heritage having high value in line with the launch of the Indonesian kris as a Masterpieces of Humanity Heritage belonging to the whole nation in the world by the UNESCO on November 25, 2005.
In addition, the ancestor of Suteja Neka, namely Pande Pan Nedeng, was a kris maker during the period of Peliatan Kingdom, Gianyar. At that time, Nedeng was instructed by the third king I Dewa Agung Djelantik (1823-1845) to continue the making of kris and resume it to his offspring.www.bali-travelnews.com

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Yeh Kutikan Beach at Tanah Lot

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If you have more time in Tanah Lot, you must try to walk along in surrounding Tanah Lot area. You will find another beach beside Tanah Lot area that haved ever seen before. That is located in the west side of Batu Mejan beach, exactly close with Surya Mandala Cultural Park Tanah Lot. The beach named "Yeh Kutikan" beach which include to Tanah Lot area. This beach truly never visited by visitor before, not like Tanah Lot. Because of the location is not easy to reach. But you must try to visit this beach because this beach also unique too.
On this beach there is waterfall too. The water coming from the river which exist above it. Above there is rice field carpet with green color if there is springtime season and with yellow color if there is crop season. Also, that place used for some event which performed in Tanah Lot area like last year such as kites festival on year 2006 and 2007. Because that venue very compatible and supporting to perform every event like kites festival. Even, this venue known as wide venue to performs kites festival in Bali.

Known for sunbathing and surfing, Yeh Kutikan is for those looking for a quiet beach where the life is easy and relaxing. Traditional Balinese fishermen here still use the beach and sea for livinghood, it offers a unique view to behold. Yeh Kutikan offers the visitors a double magnificent scene to see, a beautiful beach in front of you and mesmerizing rice fields complete with their wildlife – thousands of birds and butterflies are right behind you.
If day before evening, this place also very suitable for watching sunset besides from enjung galuh area, batubolong area, and sunset terrace. From this place you can direct to watching sunset while enjoying the panorama of blue oceans. Also if you dont want to very close with coastal edge, you can try to having relax at Surya Mandala Cultural Park (open stage) or wasting evening time in Melasti Cafe Tanah Lot until sunset happen while having dinner or just enjoying a cup of tea.www.bali-travelnews.com

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Keris as the Symbol of Life

Although today is no longer the royal era, many people still collect kris dagger. Its function is clear and no longer as it used to. It is no longer a symbol of social status or weapon to defend one’s self or fight in the war, but tends to become a symbol of cultural property, religion or may become an investment. It is not surprising if the prominence of dagger is now rising. It is certainly encouraging. After all, a kris dagger is a symbol of cultural life of the community of our ancestors. It may not be forgotten, but should be preserved.
Related to this issue, the government of Denpasar holds an event entitled Petinget Rahina Tumpek Landep enlivened with a carnival and exhibition of kris dagger every Tumpek Landep. This event results in a concept or appeal known as ‘one family one kris dagger.’ Each household is suggested to collect a kris dagger because the representation of kris dagger must be revived continuously in the global era.
On that account, the Bali Travel News bi-weekly tabloid, a member of the Bali Post Media Group holds an exhibition and exchange of kris dagger and gemstones for three days (April 1-3) at Wantilan Hall of BaliTV at Jalan Kebo Iwa 63 A Denpasar. The kris dagger and gemstone exchange is in a series with the Tri Hita Karana (THK) Nugraha 2015.
One of the kris dagger makers, Pande Wayan Suteja Neka, said that kris is a symbol of life. Keris symbolizes male-female, father-mother, sky-earth and phallus-yoni. Phallus, sky and male as the symbols of father is represented by the kris dagger, while the female, earth and yoni symbolizes a woman (mother) represented by the sheath itself.
If the kris dagger has been put into the sheath, it will result in harmonious, balanced and lucky nature as well as avoid from danger. Worldly heaven will be created at the same time. Typically, the encounter between the sky and earth occurs during rainy season. Sky (father) making the rain causes the water fall to earth (ground) causing plants and vegetation to flourish. “When the soil is fertile, the plant proliferates, it is a grace,” he said.
In the belief of Hindu community in Bali, when people get married and make a house, they surely wear a kris dagger. Bridegroom always carries a kris dagger used to stab a mat held by the bride. Sticking the kris dagger into the woman’s mat will get harmony. Kris is also a means to make a home base. Kris with the branch of erythrina and kwangen (conical offerings) is plugged into the earth for three times to result in harmonious encounter. The ceremony is called nuur ibu pertiwi in order to find safety and balance that creates harmony.
Suteja Neka said that our kris dagger must merge with us because it is a reflection of an era with a specific purpose and causality. The word keris or kris is derived from Balinese word keker meaning ‘a command’ or kekeran meaning ‘protector’ and the ris or aris meaning ‘wisdom’ or ‘balance.’ This has strong relationship to one’s psychiatry and ancestor. The more experience, the deeper the history to be discovered because the kris has symbolical and philosophical meaning.
Kris is also serves as protector to keep the house. Therefore, many kris daggers are made sacred, dipasupati (spiritually animated) and always given the offerings. They are even enthroned in a pelangkiran (wooden offering platform), family shrine and taksu shrine. “From the beginning, the kris daggers are made sacred because the material of iron is believed to be the abode of Lord Vishnu, red steel (Lord Brahma) and pure nickel (Lord Shiva) as the basis of Tri Murti,” he explained.
Kris is believed as the symbol of life because in the making of the kris is begun to be forged, filed, folded and beaten into a sharp and meaningful object. “Just like attending school, we are taught by teacher, when making mistakes we are tweaked and trained again and again to make us understand about particular subject. After being accomplished, the kris dagger becomes precious object,” he added.
Actually the kris is not magic. And it will become magic when it is made a ceremony and animated (pasupati). Most importantly, we believe that the dagger has a power. Kris functions as a weapon to defend one’s self, complete ceremonies and beautify the interiors as ornament. Pajenengan kris is the one especially made sacred. “I believe there are other forces in the dagger,” he said.
Broadly speaking there are three kinds of understanding on the kris dagger, namely the verbal, faith and intellectual understanding. Then, the United Nations declared that kris dagger belongs to Indonesia as seen from seven aspects, namely the oral, design, iron, steel, workmanship, motif (either abstract or figurative streaks on the kris blade as the result of a material blend forged repeatedly) and balance. Besides, it also has eight intangible criteria namely related to the history, art, social, symbolism, technology, tradition, philosophy and mysticism. Most people consider that kris dagger has magical power.
Kris has various designs such as straight, horizontal, leaning to the side and inward curvature. “Historically, Balinese kris dagger is part of the legacy of the Majapahit Kingdom. Philosophically, Balinese kris is seen as a symbol of the life teachings for Balinese people,” he explained.www.bali-travelnews.com

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Boreh, a Balinese Herbal Scrub

Boreh is a kind of Balinese herbal scrub known to the people of Bali and poses a heritage from ancient times. It is often made for scrubs that is applied on certain parts of the body and then let it dry. After that, the drying layer is cleansed.
Boreh consists of various types and is usually made for the sick. For instance, toddlers getting colds and flu especially in rural areas will be prepared a scrub by their mother. It is prepared from some ingredients such as rice, aromatic ginger and salt. As preparation, some people will grind it, while others may chew. Next, it is smeared on the legs, back and sometimes affixed above the head of the toddler. This kind of boreh can also be made from some herbs and spices such as cloves, cardamom, massoia etc.www.bali-travelnews.com

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Batara Turun Kabeh Ceremony at Besakih

At the peak of the Ida Batara Turun Kabeh or congregation of the god ceremony, Friday (Apr. 3) at the Penataran Agung of Besakih, Karangasem, abundant pilgrims flocked to say prayers. From the morning before the peak, pilgrims already worshipped alternately led by local priest. Meanwhile, the peak of the ngusaba kadasa was officiated over by eight higher priests. Six of them say prayers at elephant pavilion accompanied by the coordinator Ida Dalem Semaraputra and two others at paselang pavilion.
Other than Tri Sandya, the prayers last Monday was also worshipping for 11 times led by eight higher prayers and coordinated by I Gusti Mangku Jana. The peak of the ceremony was also accompanied with selonding gamelan music and Rejang Dewa sacred dance presented by devotional dancers from the IHDN Denpasar. In addition, the peak of the ceremony took place more solemnly and accompanied by gamelan music, puppet show, Baris dance and Sidakarya mask.
Meanwhile, one of the committees, Jero Mangku Suyasa, conveyed that Ida Batara Turun Kabeh procession of this year is not much different from the previous year. Many deities come down to earth. They abide in the meeting hall and witness the worship after the peak last Friday until next 21 days and the sanctified effigies of the deities will be put into respective shrine on Friday afternoon (Apr. 24). During the 21 days, pilgrims get a chance to say prayers in order to apologize for a mistake having been made as well invoke salvation and grace.http://bali-travelnews.com/

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