Saturday, January 1, 2011

Balinese Cremation Ceremony

Balinese Cremation Ceremony: Ngaben. The Balinese believe that each individual soul is reincarnated into many lifetimes, through numerous struggles and stages, until it achieves union with the divine. It is the duty of every Balinese Hindu to have children, in order to provide a vessel for the spirits of their ancestors to be reincarnated. A man does not become a full member of his Banjar (village council) until becomes a father.
Ngaben or the Cremation Ceremony is the ritual performed to send the dead through the transition to his next life. The village Kulkul ( Balinese Community Bel ) , hanging in the tower of the village temple, will sound a certain beat to announce the departure of the deceased. The body of the deceased will be placed at Bale Delod, as if he were sleeping, and the family will continue to treat him as if he were still alive yet sleeping. No tears are shed, for he is only gone temporarily and he will reincarnate into the family.


The Priest consults the Dewasa to determine the proper day for the ceremony. On the day of the ceremony, the body of the deceased is placed inside a coffin which is then placed inside a sarcophagus in the form of a buffalo (called Lembu) or a temple structure called Wadah made of paper and light wood. The Wadah/ Bade will be carried to the village cremation site in a procession.
The climax of Ngaben is the burning of the Wadah, using fire originating from a holy source. The deceased is sent to his afterlife, to be reincarnated in the future.
Lembu (sarcophagus in the form of a buffalo) Not all the same, Depend on the Body's died occupation.For example
The priest or Agung cast ( second level of cast ) will have different color of Lembu. They using White Color of Lembu but For other cast the using a black color of Lembu.
For the Wadah ( Temple Structure ) the color will be all the same for all of Cast. But except the Prise they will using white and yellow color style.
After Finish Burning also have another sequence of  Ceremony. Bring the remnant of Body died Burn to the Beach or River.

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