Jantuk's family temple ceremony in Bunutan - Day 2

the young girls in the village who are taught by Ketut (Dedik's wife)  in the after school program dancing the rejang

The ceremony continued on a glorious day of sunshine and lilting breezes.  Immediately, the second day of celebration felt different; more intimate and sacred.  There were far less people and those that were there were family and very close friends.  Dedik explained to me that this was the "vertical" part of the ceremony, and last week was the "horizontal".  It made immediate sense.  Last week the rituals initiated purification  allowing the commingling of people and lesser gods (ergo: party time); this week it's All about the deep connection with the Gods and going deep into the realm of prayer.  Ahhhhh

the blessings outside the temple

during the elaborate prayer water is used as puja.... they're hands are receiving sacred water to either drink or rub over their heads

even the topang (theatrical performer) prays before he begins his performance

now the blessing begin in the temple

and the singing begins

and  the book leads them in prayer

Some COLOR for your day- the banten..those dragonfruit are looking mighty tasty

wait! you mean 2 months of  preparations were not enough....... still making MORE

the priest intones

and the family begins their prayers inside of  their newly sanctified temple

Ayu (Jantuk's wife) wears the headband denoting she is family

Jantuk prays with Ylang-Ylang blossoms..... so sweet smelling

Dedik play/lead the gamelan

later his son Gede try his hand

Dedik and wife Ketut, dancer and mother to Gede- Really have you ever seen such Beauty and Grace (those Balinese women always know how to pose!)
Now comes  another time for joking and learning and altogether fun.  The prayers are usually performed by women, but the women decide they will teach the young boys... they are skeptical..... but game

Kadek is sneaking a peak 

travelin' woman