Balinese Traditional Cremation Ceremony: Ngaben
Bali is an exotic island situated in eastern Indonesia which is rich of cultural and religious aspect. These aspects can sometimes be an interesting attraction to the tourists. Most people in Bali believe in the religion of Hindu. In Hindu tradition, there is a belief says that after death, the body must be dissolved and returned to its original elements. When someone died, Balinese people held a cremation ceremony called Ngaben. Ngaben is a ceremony held by the family to return the spirit of the death to where he belongs. Ngaben may take days, and it is a symbol of respect the family have for the dead.
As a cremation ceremony, Ngaben cost a lot. It needs about $1500 to $2000. This ceremony is held in a festive way. No one is allowed to cry since there is a rooted belief in Bali that prohibits people to cry on the dead of family member because it can give obstacles for the spirit to reach heaven. As a festive ceremony, Ngaben can be postponed a long time after the dead for financial reasons. Sometimes Ngaben also held in a mass way, so that the families don’t have to spend as much as needed to have a personal Ngaben. The people of Bali sometimes burry the body first while they save some money for the ceremony, and cremate the body when they already have enough money.
The ceremony starts in the morning when the family and relatives gather to give respect to the dead. Later on, the body is cleaned, brought outside the house and put in a Bade or Lembu-some kind of carrier in a form of an ox, made of bamboo and paper. After that, the family, relatives and the neighbor bring the Lembu to where the ceremony is about to be held. Along the way they play Balinese traditional music, gamelan. The situation would be very festive, with the loud music and people carrying the Lembu together and followed by hundreds of people behind them. There is a belief that says the Lembu should be carried and turned right and left and again and again. These movements are meant to make the spirit confused and can’t get back home, so that he won’t disturb the family.
When they arrived, the body will be put on the Lembu’s back. Pedanda, the Hindu religious leader, will say some pray and lit the fire. After the body has fully burnt and become a dust, the ceremony continues. The family has to bring the dust to the nearest river or sea. The dust then thrown there, returned to the air and water. Later on, family can say their prayer in Pura, Hindu temple.
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