The Bali Melasti Festival is one of the sacred rituals in a series of Nyepi Day celebrations that are full of meaning for Hindus. This tradition is carried out with a procession of self-purification and various sacred objects in water sources, such as the sea, rivers, or lakes. The Bali Melasti Festival is not only a spiritual moment, but also a stunning cultural tourism attraction, attracting the attention of local and foreign tourists. With the solemn nuances and beauty of the procession of Hindus wearing Balinese traditional clothing, this festival presents an unforgettable experience for anyone who witnesses it.
The Melasti ceremony is a purification ritual for Balinese Hindus usually held three days before the Nyepi Day. The ceremony aims to cleanse the world of all sins and karma through a series of rituals in order to obtain Tirta Amerta, or the water of life.
The Melasti ceremony is always performed on the beach, as it is believed that all bad things can be thrown into the sea. Purification is not only done to humans, but also to sacred objects in the temple that symbolize the presence of the gods.
This ceremony is also known as Melis or Mekiis. The word “Melasti” itself comes from the Sanskrit, where ‘mala‘ means dirt and ‘asti‘ means to throw away. In meaning, this ceremony aims to get rid of all negative energy in order to create balance and purity before the Nyepi celebration.
Purpose of Melasti Ceremony in Bali
The Melasti ceremony is a purification ritual that aims to cleanse humans (Bhuwana Alit) and the universe (Bhuwana Agung) from negative influences, including evil spirits.
In Hinduism, Bhuwana Alit is defined as a small world that refers to the human body, while Bhuwana Agung refers to the vast world, namely the universe.
Through this ceremony, it is hoped that all negative elements inherent in humans and the environment can be purified, so that life in the future will be better, balanced and harmonious.
5 Important Aspects of the Melasti Ceremony
The Melasti ceremony has several important aspects that are part of this sacred procession, namely:
1. Purification Ritual
This ritual is performed by heading to the beach or water sources such as rivers and lakes. Hindus who want to purify themselves wear Balinese traditional clothes and bring sacred objects from the temple, such as sacred statues. In addition, they also bring offerings consisting of fruits, flowers, rice, and other symbolic paraphernalia as part of the purification procession.
2. Cleaning of Sacred Objects
In addition to purifying themselves, the Melasti Ceremony also cleans sacred objects in the temple. Balinese Hindus believe that sacred objects such as statues can absorb negative energy, so they need to be cleaned through the Melasti ritual so that their spiritual power can be restored.
3. Symbolic Activities
During the procession, Hindus will dip the statues and offerings into water as a form of purification. This ritual is believed to eliminate the influence of negative energy while cleansing sacred objects, both physically and spiritually.
4. Respect for Nature
The Melasti ceremony not only aims to purify sacred objects, but also to purify the environment. In this procession, Hindus usually sprinkle holy water and offer prayers to the ocean as a form of respect for the universe.
5. Community Participation
In Bali, the Melasti Ceremony is also a place of togetherness for the community. The procession involves participation from all villagers, thus strengthening the sense of unity, spirituality, and strengthening the cultural identity of Balinese Hindus.
Why is the Melasti Ceremony held near the sea?
The Melasti ceremony can actually be performed not only by the sea, but also in lakes or other water sources. This is because water has a very important role in the life of Hindus in Bali.
In Hindu belief, water is considered as the source of life or Tirta Amerta, which not only serves to cleanse, but also purify the human self and the universe. Through the Melasti procession at the water source, Hindus attempt to cleanse themselves of all negative energy (malaning) as well as free themselves from suffering. After humans are purified, the water used in this ceremony will also purify various sacred objects in the temple to bring more blessings.
The Melasti Ceremony Procession
The Melasti ceremony is a sacred ritual that involves the entire village community. The procession begins with a thorough cleaning of houses and temples by the Balinese people as a form of self-purification and the environment.
After that, women will prepare offerings consisting of various offerings, such as Canang Sari, Daksina, Banten Suci, and others. These offerings are decorated with colorful flowers, incense, sweets, fruits, spices, and rice as a symbol of gratitude to the God (Sang Hyang Widhi).
Furthermore, Balinese Hindus collect sacred objects from the temple to be purified in the Melasti Ceremony. These objects are then carried in a procession to a water source, such as a beach, river, or lake.
Upon arrival, a priest will lead prayers and rituals, accompanied by gamelan music and holy prayers. The peak of the ceremony is marked by the immersion of sacred objects into the water, as a symbol of purification from negativity. This ritual aims to create harmony and spiritual readiness in welcoming Nyepi Day.
Where is the Melasti Ceremony Held?
Generally, this ritual will be held in various locations in Bali, especially those close to water sources such as beaches and rivers.
The most common locations are Sanur, Kuta, Nusa Dua and Jimbaran. That is why, when this ceremony is held, there will be thousands of people consisting of Balinese Hindus and tourists who want to witness firsthand.
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