Editorial

Ngerebong May 02, 2021

Pengerebongan Temple, Denpasar

The Ngerebong ritual is a sacred tradition involving mass trance held eight days after the Kuningan celebrations. During this ritual, male participants stab themselves with the traditional weapon, kris, without sustaining any injuries. On this day sacred effigies from various temples in Kesiman and nearby villages will be taken to Pengerebongan temple and placed on elevated open pavilion from which they could witness the whole procession.

Waisak Day May 26, 2021

Waisak (also known globally as Vesak Day) is a national holiday observed in both Bali and throughout Indonesia to honour and celebrate Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. Vesak, the Day of the Full Moon in the month of May, is the holiest day in the Buddhist lunar calendar. In 1999, the UN recognized Vesak Day internationally to acknowledge the contribution that Buddhism, one of the oldest religions in the world, has made for over 2500 years. Buddhism is one of the 6 officially recognized religions in Indonesia and the second oldest major or world religion in Indonesia after Hinduism. Indian merchants arriving in Bali around 200 BCE likely introduced Buddhism and Hinduism to the island, and Buddhism actually predates Hinduism here. Given this history, do not be surprised to find that elements of Buddhism and Balinese Hinduism find themselves “borrowed” by and integrated into each other’s ceremonies and practices.