Approaching the D-day: Pelebon Minus 1

With all the mayhem around the world, Bali's cultural center, Ubud, is facing its own mayhem, with the massive royal cremations here tomorrow. But unlike most other places around the world, this Bali mayhem is calm, beautiful and festive. The narrow streets of Ubud are almost at a stand still. Cars, motorbikes, trucks... with spaces between filled with bodies and sarong covered legs... and yet seldom a tooting car horn for the long waits everyone is enduring.

Adjacent to the Royal Palace are the two massive 29 meters high shrines (Bade) which will carry the deceased royals. They have been lovingly built by the local community and taken months, but will be destroyed in minutes tomorrow, when they are set alight so send their Royals to their new world.

What's amazing is the calmness of the Balinese trying to prepare for tomorrow, building these immensely elaborate structures amongst thronging international tourists and local Indonesian sightseers. I have not witnessed anyone raising their voice or asking people to move. The work just carries on around the tourists.

There is music everywhere and I am told its a time of happiness and celebration... this is a trait the Balinese just slip into so easily at anytime.

The streets are so narrow its going to be a master feat to maneuver these huge structures with their golden wings up the street. All the power lines are to be removed tomorrow just for this event, another amazing feat which is taken in typical Balinese stride.

This is an amazing spectacle. And although its not put on as a tourist event, but a traditional local ceremony, one just cannot miss this. It's going to be a long day tomorrow.

*from the point-of-view of CML

Media Update (July 13, 2008)

The latest

Today several ceremonies were held in conjunction with the Puri Agung Ubud Royal Cremation Ceremonies.

Nuntun Ceremony - photos here
Nuntun ceremony started from Puri Sentra where the family members prayed for the souls of the deceased. Then people walked to Jl. Suwetu and prayed and put offerings for the souls of the deceased.

Ngareka Kajang Ceremony - photos here
Ngareka Kajang ceremony makes several layers of blankets which has symbols on it. Every symbol has a meaning and is decorated with flowers and offerings. Next to the ceremony are the coffins that will be used for Royal Family at the Pelebon.

Ngening Ceremony - photos here
This ceremony is conducted where people extract holy water at Tjampuhan, an area located deep near the river. This holy water will be used to shower the royal family deceased symbolically.

Ngangkit Ceremony - photos here
Ngangkit ceremony is where the bodies of the deceased are taken out from the graves and cremated. This took place at Puri Sentra. After the cremation, family members gather to collect the dust and crush the remaining bones.


Media events and activities

Series of Ceremonies prior to the Royal Cremation Ceremony (Pelebon)
• Ngening ceremony at Tjampuhan area where holy extraction is taken from a spring. The holy water will be used to shower 68 remains of the deceased.
Sunday, July 13, 2008, 8:00 a.m. (Bali Time)
• A journey to pick up the mythical dragon-like creature Naga Banda.
Sunday, July, 13, 2008, 3:00 p.m. (Bali Time)
Commencing at Puri Merajan Agung Peliatan
• Arrival of the Naga Banda at the home of the deceased who will be lifted to Sumanggen (the throne of the deceased before being taken to the cremation location)
Sunday, July 13, 2008, 5:00 p.m. (Bali Time)
Ending at Puri Agung, Ubud

Note: For the coverage of any events, please confirm to the Media Center beforehand to obtain access to ceremonial sites.

Other Information

Transportation
Shuttle buses to Ubud will be provided on a daily basis:
• July 12 – 14, 2008, 10.00 a.m. (Bali Time) from the Bali Tourism Board Office, Jln. Raya Puputan 41, Renon, Denpasar

Access to Ubud
• From July 12 to July 14, 2008, access to Ubud will be closed gradually except from the Kadewatan area
• On July 15, 2008, all access to Ubud will be completely closed for the whole day.
Media will be provided transportation, departing from Bali Tourism Board office at 7:30 a.m. (Bali Time)

A Royal Cremation

By Mark Ulyseas
For The Bali Times

In conversation with Prince Tjokorda Raka Kerthyasa of the Ubud Royal Family and brother of the late head of the Ubud royal family, Tjokorda Gde Agung Suyasa, whose cremation will take place along with others on July 15 in Ubud.

In the first half of the last century when an Indian dignitary visiting Bali uttered the words, “I see India all around me but I don’t recognize it,” he couldn’t have been closer to the truth. For instance, when marriages are celebrated in India, families pull out all the stops and go for broke. In Bali it’s the other way round: cremations are like Indian marriages but without the ostentatiousness. However, the common thread between the two cultures is the reverence with which the last rites are performed - the cremation and the subsequent rituals that make up the intricate weave of the religious fabric of a pulsating living culture.
On March 28, 2008, the head of the Ubud royal family, Tjokorda Gde Agung Suyasa, passed away. As it was not an auspicious time to cremate him, the padanda (high priest) of the Klungkung Palace fixed July 15, for the cremation. Since the death of Tjokorda Gde Agung Suyasa his mortal remains has been embalmed and kept in the Puri Saren Kauh – central/west area of the Puri Agung Ubud (palace). It is appropriately placed on a decorated structure surrounded by offerings with the fragrance of incense permeating the air.
Since March, the community has rallied around the royal family every evening at the puri to reminisce, eat food, play cards etc. It is the public sharing of grief by the community for the late Tjokorda Gde Agung Suyasa, who was affectionately called Panglingsir Puri Ubud (the wise one), by the people of Ubud and the surrounding areas. In the words of Prince Tjkorda Raka Kerthyasa, “He believed in the policy of working closely with the community with Bakti Asih (faith and compassion). He always emphasized that the palace could not be a palace without the community.”
On July 15, the cremations of Tjokorda Gde Agung Suyasa, his nephew Tjokorda Raka, aunt Desak Raka and 68 members of the community will take place in Ubud. This is symbolic of the Gotong Royong system (mutual assistance) between the members of the royal family and the community. It is evident to all when cremations are held side by side on the same day.
To enlighten the readers of The Bali Times about the approaching day when people from over 70 villages are expected to descend on Ubud, I met Tjokorda Raka Kerthyasa to discuss the upcoming event the likes of which Bali has not seen for a number of years. Over a glass of banana lassi he told me about the preparations that have gone into the mammoth ceremony and the rituals that will be witnessed by one and all.
He said that the four banjars of Ubud have galvanized 60 to 70 villages for making the decorations, preparing the offerings, producing the two giant effigies of bulls and the three bamboo towers that would be the vehicles for the three deceased royals to the cremation ground. The main tower on which Tjokorda Gde Agung Suyasa’s body will be placed is 27 meters high and weighs over 11 tons. A total of six thousand people in rotation will help carry the tower.
To date, over 125 tons of rice has been used for offerings and to feed people, and an unfathomable amount of steaming cups of Bali coffee, colorful seaweed jelly and other food offered to all visitors to the palace and those helping in the preparations.
On July 13, the gigantic effigy of the bull of Tjokorda Gde Agung Suyasa and the Naga Banda (dragon) will be carried in procession from Peliatan Palace to Ubud Palace after the priests have purified and blessed them prior to placing them next to his body that is in the special bale at the palace.
At 6am on the cremation day, all structures, effigies and decorations, even those of the community, will be cleansed with a ritual blessing conducted by the padanda. About two hours later, the main roof of each tower will be mounted.
The funeral ceremony will commence at noon, when the sun begins its westward journey. At the crossroads in front of the palace the padanda will “shoot” the effigy of the Naga Banda with an arrow to symbolize the killing of the dragon that binds the soul to earthly attachments, including acts committed by the deceased in his or her lifetime. After this the first procession will begin in an easterly direction to Dalampuri, about 1 kilometer from the palace, where the cremation of Tjokorda Gde Agung Suyasa and his nephew will occur.
Over 300 women and children carrying offerings will lead the procession; the bull of Tjokorda Raka and the gigantic bull of Tjokorda Gde Agung Suyasa will follow it. After this will come the tower of Tjokorda Raka, holding his body, and then the Naga Banda, whose tail will be entwined at the base of the main mammoth tower holding the remains of the late head of the Ubud royal family. In the vanguard will be the Bale Ganjur, the musical instruments and their versatile players. At regular intervals in the procession there will be musicians playing various instruments.
When the first procession has left, the second will begin, westwards to the Ubud Village Cremation Ground, about 700 meters from the palace. It will consist of the tower carrying the remains of Desak Raka followed by those of the 68 members of the community.
Often there are Balinese who cannot afford a cremation, so the deceased is usually buried and then exhumed when sufficient money is available and cremated on an auspicious day. It goes without saying that members of each banjar pitches in with money and materials for the cremation of its members.
At the cremation ground, the body of Tjokorda Gde Agung Suyasa, like his nephew’s, will be removed from the tower and placed inside the respective bull that is a representation of mother earth. Each clan has its own animal symbol, like a lion, tiger, elephant, fish etc. Only the holy priests use a white bull. After the bull has been burned, the family along with the padanda will remove his remains from the ashes and rearrange it in the form of a human figure on a white cloth. The padanda will then take those parts that represent the vital organs, grind them and place the ground pieces in a young coconut that has been decorated with great care. The family will carry the coconut and the other remains on the white cloth to Matahari Terbit Beach in Sanur. There they will board a boat to throw the ashes into the sea.
This is the procedure that will be followed by the relatives of all those that have been cremated. So after the cremations, a cavalcade of hundreds of vehicles is expected to depart Ubud for Sanur.
On return to Ubud from Sanur, every family will perform a ceremony called Mepegat: the final severing of the physical/emotional attachment to the pitara (soul) of the deceased. It is the freeing of the pitara from its worldly bondage and also a final goodbye to the loved one.
For three days from July 27 to the 30, the members of the royal family will conduct a ceremony (like all other Balinese), which is the purification of the pitara to enable it to become Dewa Pitara, or one with god. After this the pitara is kept in the house temple - in the form of water, for example. During these three days, the palace will be decorated in the colors of white and yellow that represents purification of the pitara.
Don’t let the crowds or traffic dissuade you. Come to Ubud and be part of a moving spiritual experience that is intrinsic to the living culture of Bali.

And maybe when you return to your country, a part of paradise will remain in your heart, mind and soul.

Om shanti shanti shanti om

Media Update (July 12, 2008)

The latest

Media Conference
The Royal Cremation Ceremony Media Center conducted a media conference on July 11, 2008 in Ubud, Bali, with the following spokespersons Ministry of Tourism Director General for Marketing Dr. Sapta Nirwandar and Puri Agung Ubud spokespersons Tjokorda Raka Kerthyasa and Tjokorda Krishna Sudharsana.


The quotes

“The Government of Indonesia highly values the diversity, traditional heritage, and cultural richness of Indonesia. We are consistently supporting significant events, including the Royal Cremation ceremony in Ubud on July 15, 2008,” stated Ministry of Tourism Director General for Marketing Dr. Sapta Nirwandar.

“The family members are highly appreciative of the commitment shown by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism through its support in ensuring our ceremony and its cultural significance is sensitively shared with others well beyond our community” said Puri Agung Ubud spokesperson Tjokorda Krishna Sudharsana.

“We are very happy that the media and public have been enthusiastic about the ceremony. This is such huge event, attracting people from across Indonesia and around the world. Approximately 500 police officers will be deployed to ensure the ceremony runs smoothly and peacefully,” said Head of Ubud Patrol Police offices Tjokorda Gde Raka.

Media events and activities

Series of Ceremonies prior to the Royal Cremation Ceremony (Pelebon)

• A journey to pick up the mythical dragon-like creature Naga Banda
  Sunday, 13 July 2008, 3:00 p.m. (Bali Time)
  Commencing at Puri Merajan Agung Peliatan
• Arrival of the Naga Banda at the home of the deceased who will be lifted to Sumanggen (the throne of the deceased before being taken to the cremation location)
  Sunday, 13 July 2008, 5:00 p.m. (Bali Time)
  Ending at Puri Agung, Ubud
  Note: For the coverage of any events, please confirm to the Media Center beforehand to obtain access to ceremonial sites.

Other Information

Transportation
Shuttle buses to Ubud will be provided on a daily basis:

• July 12 – 14, 2008, 10.00 a.m. (Bali Time) from the Bali Tourism Board Office, Jln. Raya Puputan 41, Renon, Denpasar

Access to Ubud

• From July 12 to July14, 2008, access to Ubud will be closed gradually except from the Kadewatan area
• On July 15, 2008, all access to Ubud will be completely closed for the whole day.
  Media will be provided transportation, departing from Bali Tourism Board office at 7:30 a.m. (Bali Time)

The 28.5 meter, 11 ton Bade

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The 28.5 meter, 11 ton Bade starts to take shape thanks to the dedicated work of the people in Ubud.

Media Update (July 11, 2008)

Background

The Ubud Royal family is currently conducting a series of ceremonies in Ubud, Bali, culminating in a unique Royal Cremation (pelebon) procession and Celebration of Life, which will take place on July 15, 2008. The pelebon ceremony will be held for the bodies of two prominent elders of the family:
• TJOKORDA GDE AGUNG SUYASA who was head of the Ubud Royal Family and a leader of the traditional community in Ubud since 1976
• TJOKORDA GEDE RAKA was a senior officer in the Denpasar Police Department until his retirement in 1992.
The effigy of DESAK RAKA (GUNG NIANG RAKA), whose body was cremated in a smaller ceremony in December 2007 soon after she passed away, will also be given a full cremation ceremony.


The latest

• On July 15, 2008, the 28.5 meters and 11 tons in weight of tower (bade) is a symbol for three levels of life – earth (bhur), body (bwah), soul (swah).
• The bade will be carried by 250 people who will take turns carrying the bade in every 100 meters during the 1 kilometer parade to the cemetery (Setra)
• The parade of vehicles for the departed will consist of 71 various symbols, compromising oxen (Lembu), dragon (Naga Banda), lion, horse, etc and 2 towers (Bade)
• The preparation for the ceremony takes three months, a huge collaboration amongst hundreds of local communities from four villages in Ubud and many others from surrounding areas in Bali
• The ceremonial offerings that consist of staple foods – ducks, eggs, coconut leaves, etc – are obtained from other regions, including Banyuwangi
• And to live up the spirit of Royal Cremation Ceremony, Puri Agung Ubud has assembled more than 800 musicians to be part of the parade with the Royal members and those 68 people who have departed
• There will also be 20 troops from Solo Sultanate who will be part of the Pelebon Parade on July 15, 2008, as a show of tribute to the deceased

The quote

“This grand ceremony is one of our demonstrations of collaboration of energy, sense, aura, respect and dedication to our family members. As part of the Indonesian culture, we want this ceremony to be experienced by others, so they can feel the respect and high devotion we put into this. We highly appreciate all the support that was given to us, including from the Government to make our ceremony be part of others outside our communities and outside of Bali,” said Tjokorda Raka Kerthyasa, Puri Agung Ubud Representative.


Media events and activities

Media Conference
Friday, July 11, 2008, 14:00 a.m. – 15:30 p.m. (Bali Time)
Venue: The Royal Cremation Ceremony Media Center, Ubud, Bali
Speakers: Ministry of Culture and Tourism Director General for Marketing Dr. Sapta Nirwandar, Ubud Royal Family spokespersons Tjokorda Raka Kerthyasa and Tjokorda Khrisna Sudharsana

Series of Ceremonies before the Royal Cremation Ceremony (Pelebon

• Procession of the remains to Sumanggen (throne of the deceased before taken to the cremation location)
  Puri Agung Ubud, Saturday, July 12, 2008, 0.12 a.m. (Bali Time)
• Journey to pick up Naga Banda at Merajan Agung Puri Peliatan
  Puri Merajan Agung Peliatan, Sunday, July 13, 2008, 3:00 p.m. (Bali Time
• Arrival of Naga Banda at the home of the deceased to be lifted to Sumanggen
  Puri Agung Ubud, Sunday, July 13, 2008, 5:00 p.m. (Bali Time)
• Rituals to turn on lampion lights to pay respect to The Royal Cremation Ceremony procession
  Puri Agung Ubud, Monday, July 14, 2008, 8:00 p.m. (Bali Time)
  
  Note: For the coverage of any events, please confirm to the Media Center beforehand to obtain access to ceremonial sites.

Series of Ceremonies before the Royal Cremation Ceremony (Pelebon)
Puri Agung Ubud, Bali, Tuesday, July 15, 2008, 0:12 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. (Bali Time)

The Royal Cremation Ceremony Media Center
Operational hours: 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. (Local Time)
Wantilan Water Palace
Puri Saraswati Ubud
Jl. Raya Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Telp: +62361 970 855
Fax: +62361 970 866

For interview arrangment and more information, please contact Cynthia Setiato (+62817 497 7720) and Fannie Waldhani (+62812 810 0525).

Other Information

Transportation
Shuttle busses to Ubud will be provided on a daily basis:

Bali Tourism Board Office, Jln. Raya Puputan Renon, Denpasar

• July 11, 2008 at 12:00 (Bali Time)
• July 12 - 14, 2008, 10:00 (Bali Time)

Ngurah Rai Airport

• July 11, 2008, 10:00 (Bali Time)

Access to Ubud

• Please be informed that on July 12 – 14, 2008, access to Ubud will be closed gradually except from the Kadewatan area
• On July 15, 2008, all access to Ubud will be completely closed for a full day

Because of the closure on July 15, 2008, it is strongly recommended for the media to gather at the designated meeting point at Bali Tourism Board office, Jl. Raya Puputan No. 41, Renon, Denpasar at 7.30 a.m. (Bali Time) to depart together with the official TRCC shuttle bus.

Hotels
Please note that media covering The Royal Cremation Ceremony event will be responsible for their own hotel bookings.

Dress Code
Media are obliged to wear the following proper attire to all ceremonies:
• Male: Sarong, white shirt, Udeng (Balinese hat)
• Female: Kebaya/white shirt, sarong, waist slayer
The attire will be provided at the Media Center before the media conference on July 11, 2008.

Preparing Bade

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One part of the ceremonial cremation tower (Bade). The color yellow, when combined with white, means divinity, symbolizing the journey back to purity.

Working Together to Build The Tower (Bade)

Ubud, Bali, July 10, 2008 – Hundreds of local artists and community members have worked together to build the tower (Bade) that will be part of the massive parade for the Royal Cremation Ceremony (Pelebon) on July 15, 2008 in Ubud, Bali. The 28.5 meter high, 11 ton Bade is made of bamboo and betel nut (pinang).

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