Med-medan : Hugs and Kisses In Front Of The Thousands of Eyes

Bali Personal Drivers - Med-medan tradition held the day after the Nyepi Day, late afternoon exactly, at the Ngembak Geni Day to welcome the New Year Saka. Med-medan tradition has existed for dozens of years ago, and continue to be carried out and preserved till today. The place of celebration of this tradition is in Banjar Kaja, Sesetan village, about 3 km from the city of Denpasar Bali.

"Med-medan" comes from the word "omed-omedan" which means to pull each other in Balinese language. Before the event, the participants who took part in the celebration Med Medan first doing praying jointly, led by the Jero Pemangku Pura.

Med-medan tradition celebration begins with Janger dances, and performances of Barong Bangkung dance (Barong which resemble pigs male and female) who are in love and were dictated by a kiss.

Med-medan is only followed by young men and women from Banjar Kaja, Sesetan Village, the elderly are no longer allowed and young people from other Banjar or villages were also not involved. They were divided into two groups, men's group and women's groups that have a lifespan of among 16-21 years. The leader of the group, was placed in the front position and the other members lined up behind and holding his/her waist friend who lies ahead.

How to Med-medan exercise of is pull each other of using bare hands between men and women and then doused in water. If already watered it marked the pull between a man and a woman are finished, and then followed by a friend who was behind. But often, when the pull happening, the participants took the opportunity to hug and kiss his/her opponent, and the atmosphere was very hilariously with rowdy sound. The event was held up at 17:00 local time.

Med-medan tradition is now also be gathering event to find a mate. Secretly they could request that his opponent is someone who is being targeted. So, if the order is are met, the kissing scene will actually lasts. But if not, one will usually try to avoid, despite constantly being forced by his/her group.

For those of you who want to watch this exciting tradition, there is no other choosen for you than coming to Bali, because there are things that are more unique when you see it in person.

Reference : wisatadewata.com, erabaru.net
Photo : flickr.com

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Perang Pandan : A Veneration Ritual For The God of War

Bali Personal Drivers - Bali has a variety of unique traditions, one of which is a tradition Perang Pandan (Pandan War) or often also called the "Mekaré-kare". Perang Pandan ceremony, is offering ceremony held in honor of God Indra (The God of war) and the ancestors. These rituals are held every year in June in the village of Tenganan, which is located 70 km to the east of Denpasar, Bali. Perang Pandan ceremony was held 2 days and are held once a year at "Sasih Kalima" (fifth month of the Balinese calendar). The ceremony was part of the ceremony "Sasih Sembah", the largest religious ceremony in the village of Tenganan.

Need to know, that the Tenganan Village is one of the old village in Bali or also called the "Bali Aga". The village location surrounded by hills, while the form of the village like a fortress which only has four entrances with secure system, making it easier to know who is coming and going from the village. Before Perang Pandan began, all participants performed the surrounding village ritual for invoke salvation, and continued with the drinking "tuak" ritual (drinking wine ritual). Tuak which stored in bamboo poured into a banana leaf that serves as glass. Participants poured each wine with each other, then the wine is collected into one and dumped to the side stage.

The venue for the ceremony, was in front of the meeting hall in the village yard. Meanwhile the implementation time usually begins at 2 pm, where all people wearing "Pegringsingan (traditional Tenganan clothes). For men only use "kamen" (sarong), saput (scarves), udeng (headband) and shirtless. The war equipment is a thorny "pandan" which tied together, so as resemble the shape of bludgeon, while the shield is made of rattan. Every man (start up teenagers) in this village, shall participate in Perang Pandan. The arena is about 5 x 5 meters square and about 1 meter height, with no safety rope surround.

When Perang Pandan ceremony will begin, "Mangku Widia", the traditional leaders in the village of Tenganan gestured with his voice, and the two young men get ready. They were face to face with a bundle of pandan leaves in his right hand and a shield made of plaited rattan in the left hand. Mediators like the referee standing between two young men. After the mediator raised his hand, then the two young men attacked each other. They beat the back of opponents by the way embrace first, and then rubbing the back of his opponent with pandan. Other participants cheered to encourage and gamelan was sounded with a fast tempo. Two young men hugging each other and beat him down. Mediator separate them, assisted by another mediator.

The battle did not last long, even less than one minute. If the battle had finished, and then spliced with the other battle. This is done rotating (approximately 3 hours). After the ceremony all the scars treated with traditional ingredients made from turmeric is said to be very powerful to heal wounds. No sad eyes even crying at the time because they all do it with sincere and happy. This tradition is part of a veneration ritual of Tenganan people to God Indra, the god of war who was honored with the blood, through Perang Pandan ceremonies, without a sense of revenge, even if it means hurting each other with pandanus thorns.

After the Perang Pandan ceremonies finished then closed with prayers at local temples equipped with dedicated a Rejang Dance.

Reference : wisatadewata.com
Photo : deviantart.com, flickr.com

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Melasti Ceremony : The Cleansing and Purification Ceremonies

Bali Personal Drivers - Interval of two or three days before Nyepi, Melasti ceremony was held. Melasti ceremony also called "Melis / Mekiyis", where on this day, Hindus doing their prayer at the seaside to purify themselves of all the bad things in the past and throw it into the sea. This ritual is done before celebrating "Tapa Brata Penyepian".

Besides to prayer, Melasti also is the cleaning and purification of various sacred objects belonging Pura (pralingga or pratima Ida Bhatara and all equipment). The objects carried and paraded around the village to sanctify the village. Then carried towards the ocean, sea, lake, river or other springs which are considered sacred.

Arriving at the edge of the water, then performed the holy water withdrawal process, to clean up the means of the ceremony, including "Jempana" and "Barong". In the implementation of this ceremony also performed collectively praying facing the sea. All participants of the ceremony wearing a white shirt. After Melasti ceremony ended all the means of the ceremony carried back to the Bale Agung Pura desa.

The Melasti Ceremony if considered synonymous with "Nagasankirtan" ceremony in India. In the Melasti ceremony, pratima that is a symbol of the rides of Ida Bhatara carried through the village towards the sea, with the aim that the sanctity of the pratima can be sanctify the village. Being Nagasankirtan ceremony in India, Hindus around the village, chanting the names of God (Namas-maranam) to sanctify the village which it passes.

The implementation of Melasti ceremony is divided by area, in the province performed Tawur Ceremony. At the district level a Panca Kelud Ceremony. At the sub district level Panca Sanak Ceremony. At the village level Panca Sata Ceremony. And at the level Banjar Ekasata Ceremony. While in each household, the ceremony performed in "natah merajan".

Reference : wisatadewata.com
Photo : flickr.com

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Tri Hita Karana

Bali Personal Drivers - Tri Hita Karana comes from Sanserkerta. "Tri" meaning three, "Hita" means good / happy / prosperous, "Karana" means cause. So is literally Tri Hita Karana means three causes of happiness. As for the third part of Tri Hita Karana is Parhyangan, Palemahan, and Pawongan. Description is as follows :

Parhyangan	Parhyangan derived from the word, "Hyang" which means God. Parhyangan is a harmonious relationship between man and God as creator. This harmonious relationship can lead to happiness. Example by praying to God, care for places of worship, or saying grace to God. This can lead to happiness the heart and mind.
Palemahan	Palemahan derived from the word, "lemah" which means ground. Palemahan is a harmonious relationship between man and his environment. For example, by way of cleaning environment, care for plants and animals, and take no action that might damage or pollute the environment.
Pawongan	Pawongan derived from the word, "wong" which means people in the Javanese language. Pawongan is a harmonious relationship between man and the others man. Can be realized by way of mutual respect and appreciation among humans, foster an attitude helping each other, tighten the relationship, and also resolve issues with deliberation rather than by violence.

Tri Hita Karana is three harmonious relationships that lead to happiness for mankind. For that, those three things have to be maintained and preserved in order to achieve a harmonious relationship. As published in the Hindu doctrine that "the happiness and the livelihoods" is the goal to be achieved in human life, both physical happiness called "Jagadhita" or spiritual happiness called "Moksha".

Therefore it can be said, that a harmonious relationship with all three of the above is one that should be pursued within life of every human being. If not, people will be far from the goals which they aspire to or they will discover the misery.

Reference : commons.wikimedia.org, isi-dps.ac.id
Photo : commons.wikimedia.org

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