Have you ever wondered why would Balinese Hindus be willing to face all these difficulties of observing many traditions during their entire phase of life? In this article, Bali Villas R Us will solely discuss the sacrifice a human has to perform from the moments they live inside his/her mother’s belly to his/her new beginning of a marriage.

What Makes Balinese Traditions Unique?

The root of all Balinese traditions is their strong belief concerning human existence in this world. They understood that humans inherited “debts”; that they’re alive today because in the past they still have unfinished matters that they should finalize in the present era. Principally, humans owe their lives to God, their ancestors, and the holy priests. This is what they recognize in the precept of Tri Rna. 3 debts they must pay to compensate for their safe living journey. To complete their holistic missions, they carry out Yadnya. It is a medium they use to be free from all these debts. In all phases of their lives, they must sincerely sacrifice by holding holy rituals addressed to God (Dewa Yadnya), their ancestors and parents (Pitra Yadnya), the holy priests (Rsi Yadnya), ourselves (Manusa Yadnya), and underworld creatures (Bhuta Yadnya).

Manusa Yadnya – Why Balinese Traditions Involve Sacred Rituals to Ourselves?

The life we are living now needs to be taken care of from when we were a baby in our mother’s womb to the day we are fully grown and step into a brand-new phase of marriage life. Our parents are responsible to execute the necessary rituals to conserve our fragile souls. This role will also be passed down to us the moment we become parents. Therefore, we are indebted so much to our parents because they sincerely love and do all they can to keep us alive and protected that we pay them back by committing to Pitra Yadnya. In the following is the series of holy rituals our parents must fulfill in ensuring our lives as Balinese Hindus.

#1 Magedong Gedongan, Balinese Tradition

The main purpose of the ritual is to promote safety and strength to the 7-month fetus in the womb. Also, this is to prevent the mother from having a miscarriage. It also aims to spiritually cleanse and encourage a safe delivery process for the mother and the baby. This Balinese tradition is the first ritual that we do when we are approaching birth, so our life will be a blessing to the world and our coming to life can bring a positive contribution to everyone.

#2 The Time We Were Born in this World

To welcome the baby to this world, his or her parents along with their relatives help one another in a celebration ceremony. They will make a special offering called banten dapetan, while carrying out the process of planting the placenta at home.

#3 Kepus Puser (The Navel Ceremony)

As the navel is naturally released from the baby’s belly around 3 days after the delivery, the parents will perform the navel ceremony. A holy small shrine is placed on the baby’s crib where they can put the offerings in there.

#4 Ngelepas Hawon (12- Day Ceremony)

The day the baby is 12 days old, it’s time for the naming ritual for the baby.

#5 Tutug Kambuhan (42-Day Ceremony)

Right after the baby is 42 days old, the family will hold a ritual to authenticate the name of the baby while at the same time performing a cleansing ritual for the parents.

#6 Nyambutin / Nelun Bulanin (3-Month Ceremony)

Balinese Hindus believe that from the day a baby was born, s/he cannot take a step on the ground until the age of 3 months. This ceremony commemorates the first time the baby is allowed to tiptoe.

#7 Otonan (Grand 6-Month Ceremony)

Otonan is a conventional holy way of a Balinese Hindu holding their birthday. However, on the grand 6-month ceremony of the baby, the parents will perform a hair cutting ritual for their baby.

#8 Upacara Tumbuh Gigi

This Balinese tradition is a ritual to celebrate the first growing tooth of the baby so the rest of the teeth will develop well.

#9 Upacara Tanggal Gigi

They have a first tooth ritual, and so the fallen tooth ritual. What they believe is if the baby lost their upper tooth, they should plant it on home ground. On the other hand, if it’s the lower tooth then they should toss it up to the rooftop.

#10 Upacara Raja Sewala

As your baby is entering adolescence or menek daha, by performing Raja Sewala, the hope is for the kid to develop maturity that can help him or her to prevent unwanted things that might occur to him or her. There are two kinds of Raja Sewala ritual, Raja Singa to the boys and Tabuh Rah to the girls.

#11 Mepandes (Tooth Filling Ceremony), Balinese Tradition

Balinese Hindus are eligible for Mepandes when they have executed Raja Sewala. This Balinese tradition is a tooth-filling ceremony. Teeth symbolize sad ripu or 6 impurities within humans’ bodies. To neutralize the impurities, 6 teeth especially canine teeth are made blunt.

#12 Pawiwahan (Marriage), Balinese Tradition

This Balinese tradition is what we know as the marriage ceremony, the start of a new beginning. It has come for the fetus to carry on the responsibilities of what his or her parents had been through. All Balinese people presumed that this is their last duty as parents. Their lovely kid has grown to be a wife or husband and soon will have their little ones too. They also hope for the newlyweds to be willing to take care of their parents until their last day on earth and to execute a cremation ceremony and then become an ancestor in the near future.

Read more : Everything You Need to Know about Traditional Balinese Wedding