If you haven’t booked your tickets to Bali yet you might want to look at grabbing some last-minute deals on flights and accommodation to enjoy a summer of festivals and fun.

Jatiluwih Festival

The 3rd Jatiluwih Festival is scheduled to run from June through September in the Jatiluwih Tourism Area (DTW), Tabanan in west Bali. The Jatiluwih Festival selects Bali Green Ambassadors to spread the message of environmental awareness. 

This year’s theme is ‘Glorifying Dewi Sri for prosperity and harmony’, The goddess of fertility and rice. 

The Amazing JATILUWIH RICE TERRACES: Beauty and Bali’s Local Genius

Jatiluwih village has been defined by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage site since June 29, 2012, because it has a unique farm with a traditional irrigation system which is using the concept of Tri Hita Karana philosophy (the philosophy of harmony between man and his neighbor, man and nature, as well as human and The Creator).

Jatiluwih, in the Balinese language, is translated means Beautiful Teak. Here, one can marvel at the vast expanses of terraced, green rice paddies stepped along an entire mountain, from its peak to where its foot meets the sea. 

The traditional Subak Irrigation System is a Manifestation of the Tri Hita Karana Philosophy

By combining sacred traditional values with a highly organized system, therefore, the Subak, the unique Balinese rice farming culture is a manifestation of the Balinese Tri Hita Karana cosmological doctrine. It is the tangible reflection of the original Balinese ideas and beliefs that are essentially rooted in this concept, namely the awareness that human beings need to always maintain a harmonious relationship between Man and God, Man and fellow humans, and between Man and Nature in one’s daily life. 

How to get there:

This stunning stretch of rice fields is located in the Tabanan Regency, which lies about 40 kilometers from the island-province capital city of Denpasar, or about 2 hours’ drive away. Along the drive, you will pass cafes with tables overlooking the terraces, which make the perfect place to enjoy magnificent sceneries.

Rice Processing & Farmers Activities

Jatiluwih is very famous for its rice terraces and its irrigation system which is run by Subak members, despite the philosophy of Tri Hita Karana which is the base philosophy of farmers in Jatiluwih, then in terms of the processing of rice fields is also based on it, in this case, is the connection to The God as The Creator to perform some ceremonies that are part of the activities of farmers like; cultivate paddy, rice planting, harvesting, and so on.

According to the Hindu religion and the culture that is embraced by the majority of farmers in Jatiluwih, the ceremony which is performed are:

1. Mapag Toya, is the ceremony to take/fetch water to the fountain. The ceremony is attended by all members of Subak and performed at the Sasih Ketiga or around the month of September. This activity is called Kempelan, the activity to open a water channel to a source of water flow in the upstream water control system, then the water will flow through the rice fields.
2. Ngendag Tanah Carik, is a ceremony to God for safety when plowing the rice fields, it is done by each member of subak. This procession is still on Sasih Ketiga (in September).
3. Ngurit, is a nursery ceremony performed by all members of Subak on each cultivated field. Ngurit held on Sasih kelima (around November).
4. Ngerasakin, is a ceremony to clean the impurity (leteh) that is left behind when plowing the rice fields, the ceremony is performed after the plowing activities are completed in each arable land in the early Sasih Kepitu (early January).
5. Pangawiwit (Nuwasen), is the ceremony to find a good day to start planting rice, it’s carried on Sasih Kepitu (in January).
6. Ngekambuhin, is a ceremony to ask for salvation to God of the new rice growing, it is done when the paddy is at 42 days old, around Sasih Kewulu (February).
7. Pamungkah, is a ritual to invoke safety so that rice plants can grow well. The ceremony is conducted in Sasih Kawulu (February).
8. Penyepian, is the ceremony for safety in order to prevent rice plants from pests/diseases and it is performed on Sasih Kesanga (around March).
9. Pengerestitian Nyegara Gunung, is the ceremony conducted in Pura Luhur Petali Temple and Pura Luhur Pekendungan Temple (March/April).
10. Mesaba, is a ceremony before the harvest that is done on Sasih kedasa (in April) by members of Subak in their paddy fields respectively.
11. Ngadegang Bhatari Sri (Bhatara Nini), is a symbolic ceremony to visualize God as Lingga-Yoni (Shiva Lingam).
12. Nganyarin, is a ritual to start the harvest carried out in Sasih Sada (June) by Subak members on each of the fields.
13. Manyi, is rice harvest activities (in July).
14. Mantenin, is a ceremony to raise and store the rice in the barn which is held on Sasih Karo(August).

See you at the Jatiluwih Festival 2019!