Village traditions enrich Kuningan day celebration

As Hindus across the island celebrated Kuningan on Saturday, villagers carried out unique rituals as part of the major celebration, which falls 10 days after Galungan Day.

The rituals drew the attention of local people and tourists.

In Bongan Gede, Tabanan regency, residents gathered along the hamlet's narrow street, where they prepared offerings to place in front of houses, gearing up for a ritual called mesuryak, which occurs twice a year.

The crowd yelled and cheered, as a representative from each family threw paper money and coins in the air.

The money was collected from the offerings made by each family and put together in several spots along the street.

The crowd - mostly boys - scrambled to collect the money. Some jumped up to grab it while it was still floating in the air.

Wayan Sukarta may have been the luckiest as he managed to catch three Rp 100,000 notes.

"It's really fun *to take part in this tradition*. We can gather with friends and get some cash and I usually get at least Rp 100,000 every time I join this ritual," said the 27-year-old.

Another participant, Harya Yuhana, was less successful, but the 12-year-old boy looked happy as he collected his money in a plastic bag.

"I got Rp 79,000. Not bad," he said, smiling.

I Made Wardana, a representative from the hamlet administration, said that mesuryak was held in Bongan Gede every Kuningan Day, which is the closing festival after a series of ceremonies to celebrate the victory of dharma (virtue) against adharma (evil).

"Mesuryak originated from this banjar *traditional hamlet* and only takes place here," he said.

Many Bongan Gede locals that have migrated always return to their hometown to join the festivity, he added.

"We hold this ritual as a symbol of gratitude to the spirits of our ancestors that guide us toward a better life. Through this ritual, we usher the spirits to return to their places in heaven.

"This ritual also has a social merit of solidarity and sharing with other people, which we accomplish by spreading the money.

"Every family in this banjar contributes *by giving their money*, no matter what the amount is," Wardana said, adding the banjar consisted of 130 families.

I Ketut Alit Subagia, a resident of the banjar, said he believed that by spreading the money, the spirits of the ancestors would bless his family and provide them with a better livelihood.

On the same day, hundreds of villagers in Munggu, Badung regency, also held their own unique ritual call makotek.

Every participant, mostly young men, carried around 3-meter-long wooden sticks and marched throughout the village in their Balinese attire.

After the parade, they split into two groups and pushed each other with the sticks. The highlight of the event was when they brought their sticks together in mid air and made a pyramid-like form as some courageous boys climbed to the top.

Ida Bagus Mahadewa, head of the traditional village, said the ritual commemorated the bravery of their ancestors.