 |
| outside my cottage door |
As Galungan occurs every 210 days, I am again fortunate to be able to experience its joy and its reflection on family and prayer.
 |
| Made, one of the neighborhood women who comes to make our family's offerings |
It is hard to convey just How Much Time is spent in preparation for these holidays. I am still overwhelmed by the work that is done for weeks, if not months in advance.
 |
| a lamak all cut from bamboo + banana leaves |
 |
| lamak: this one is actually quite prosaic! |
It begins with the intimate. The morning starts around 7am with the family temple being festooned with all the offerings.
As only a Balinese woman can extract the mathematical formula as what goes where/ how many/and the last minute adjustments.... I can only help in the simplest of tasks.... such as oohing and ahhing and lighting the incense (o! this is the primary smell of Bali.....along with frying shallots), and lighting small urns of fire. I also help with making the flower cabangs as i view any idiot can do this. The small banana leaf boxes are already made and i have to copy the flowers in their formation and then place moss on top. There are over 500 of just this very kind (one of many) to be made. It's done communally with the women; as one sees all women pause during their other work (in the market, at a store etc) take time to do this. I have mentioned many times; Balinese spend between 75%-90% of their money on these offerings.
The fruits, cakes, chickens,pigs ,ducks are all piled high in reverence and sacrifice.
 |
| Martien (from Holland) and I ready to go to the family temple (do you think we look silly??????? i love dressing balinese...... it's so lovely and fitting) |
We made the most lovely puja first thing in the morning in the family temple. The males sitting cross-legged, the females on our knees (virasana position in yoga) sitting on our heels. We meditate our intentions.
First we purify ourselves by motioning our hands above the incense. The we place our hands outward to receive. Ina (or in the temple, the priest) douse our hands with fronds of dripping "holy water". 3 times. On the fourth+fifth we cup our hands and drink. On the sixth it is sprinkled over our heads and we cleanse ourselves.
Then we take a flower (frangipani/ylangylang,orchids,geranium,hibiscus etc) and place it between our palms and raise our palms in prayer position over our heads. After we are finished praying; you tuck the flower/petal in your hair or behind your ear. This is repeated 3 times. Then you take a small handful of wet uncooked rice and place it first on your forehead/third eye and then place an amount at your throat chakra. Finally you eat three grains of rice. More meditation. And you walk around for the rest of the day with rice falling into your eyes, off your face (and in my situation; down my cleavage..... it's a great reminder as i undress later what i have done)
 |
| sculpture as you enter the Pura Dalem (notice skulls at bottom) |
We then walked down to the Pura Dalem (temple of the Dead) and what a magnificent structure it is.... with it's giant banyan tree. We then repeat this inside the temple (the entire structure is open to the elements) with others with a priest.
And we watch others come in with their offerings.
It is social and happy and watching the littlest toddlers of course is my favorite.
After observing for a couple of hours..... i stroll to Jalan Kajeng , one of my favorites.... and visit the Roda family...as they welcome us all. You can view photos of all of this from a previous blog.......in 2010. I will probably go to the trance ceremony again with the Roda clan . Galungan is 10 days;ending in Kuningan.
 |
| at the end of the day walking through the gardens of Honeymoon these Giant lotus were blooming....and I had to record the beauty |
On Kuningan i can go to the trance ceremony.... or an Odalan
(temple birthday) ceremony in Mas....... oooooh the choices...... always the choices of which ceremony to attend!
travelin' woman
No comments:
Post a Comment