Ngaben
is one of Hindu’s great ceremony in Bali where the corpse is burnt, accompanied
by holly songs and offerings. Hindu’s believe that ngaben will return the soul
of a dead person to their abode in heaven or send the dead through a transition
to his next life. Ngaben is also a form of a respect to their parents by
releasing the soul from worldly attachment. Families that conduct ngaben
ceremony generally try not to cry at the grave yard since they believe that
tears would only incommode the deceased journey to their eternal abode.
How to counduct a Ngaben?
Few days before the climax ceremony, the family would
consult the “dewasa” (good day) to a priest to determine the proper day to
conduct this ceremony. The process began by built a stage as a place for
nyiramin (bathing the corpse), made a lembu (a buffalo shaped sarcophagus where
the corpse will be put into and burnt) and wadah (temple structure made of
paper, bamboo and light wood). This lembu will be carried to the village grave
yard in a procession.
Before climax ceremony, all family
members will give their last respect and begun to pray in order the deceased
will somehow get a better place in heaven. Afterward the corpse will be put
into wadah and carried to graveyard, followed by flock of people and gamelan
(Balinese traditional music) and “kidung suci” (holy mantra). In front of the
wadah, there will be placed a long piece of kasa (white cloth) heading
the ways of the deceased soul to reach their eternal abode.
Ever past T-junction or crossroad, wadah
will be turned clockwise three times in order the soul will not return to his
or her home. Arrive at the graveyard, the corpse then will transferred to
lembu, followed by mantra chanting by the priest and the lembu will be burnt
and it ash carried to sea or river. When all ceremony had been completed, the
deceased considered as ancestor, who believed will reincarnate into their
family.
Thank you for spending your valuable
time to read my story. You can share this story with your family, friends and
your clients if you wish.
Denpasar-BALI, 2 March 2009
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