Death in Bali involves one of the biggest and most important of Balinese rituals - cremation. This way the body/soul is returned to the four elements of earth, fire, air, and water, and the soul is free to move on to its next life.
Cremation ceremonies are quite expensive. The body may be buried until it can be cremated along with richer deceased, until relatives have saved up for cremation, or until an auspicious day. Sometimes this means weeks, sometimes years. But when it happens, it is an epic, joyful event.
When someone dies, the family lights lanterns around the house to notify the community. Then they prepare food as usual and offer it to the deceased, to keep up their connection with the deceased. The soul remains with the body for three days. The body is then buried if not to be cremated right away, or taken to the temple and prepared for cremation.
For cremation of the buried, the bones are exhumed and sprinkled with holy water. All of the bones may be wrapped up for cremation, or just some of them and a wood carving symbolic of the deceased's soul. The body is brought to the temple and prepared as above, then placed along with offerings into the procession tower. The processional moves from the temple to the cremation grounds, where the body and offerings are moved from the tower to large papier mache-type bulls that will carry the souls to heaven. The bulls are burned along with the procession tower. After the deceased's bones have cooled, the family takes the bones (which may be ground by a priest) in coconut shells to be thrown into the sea, the final step in releasing the soul to its next life.
The whole community is invited to the cremation, including tourists. The intention is the more the merrier in order to send the soul off to heaven and its new life. All attendees wear sarongs to show respect for the occasion.
Waiting for the Procession to Begin
Selling Sarongs to Tourists in Front of the Temple
Blessing Offerings
Placing Bodies Into the Procession Tower
Family Emerging From Temple
Carrying the Tower
Bulls Will Carry the Souls to Heaven
Processions Were A Lot Easier Before Electricity Came Along
More Procession Pics
Offerings and Bodies Placed in Bull
Soul on Its Way to Heaven
1 comment:
I got to witness one of these when I was in Bali a few years ago. The sense of ritual and ceremony was awe-inspiring.... as was watching a body burn like that. Definitely a highlight to my trip.
I enjoy hearing about your amazing travels...tho probably not as enjoyable as living them. ; )
-shari
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