Balinese Hindus celebrate Pagerwesi

Hindu devotees celebrated Pagerwesi Day on Wednesday by performing prayers in temples throughout Bali.

Pagerwesi — which means iron fence — is observed every 210 days to honor Sanghyang Pramesti Guru, or God as the “teacher” of the universe. Sanghyang Pramesti Guru, or Siwa, is also believed to be the manifestation of God who destroyed all evil in the world.

“On this day we worship God as the true teacher. Living without a teacher means living without guidance,” Indonesian Hindu Council advisory board member Ketut Wiana said.

Balinese Hindus believe that on Pagerwesi they must protect themselves from evil.

“Pagerwesi symbolizes strong protection to ward off evil things that would destroy us. We forgo ignorance before God, and let God fi ll our souls with true knowledge,” Wiana said.

The celebration of Pagerwesi in Buleleng regency in the northern part of Bali was merrier than in other places on the predominantly Hindu island.

Beside going to temples, local Hindus in Buleleng also prayed in cemeteries to honor their ancestors. They also spent the day holding prayers with their families.

Agung Raka, a resident of Sukasada subdistrict in Buleleng, said his family was busy preparing offerings for prayers.

“We started early in the day preparing for the offerings we will bring to the temple, and to the cemetery for those who have family members who have not been cremated.”

Main streets in the regency were deserted in the morning as most people were praying in their homes. At around 9 a.m., Hindus fl ocked to the streets carrying their offerings.

According to Wiana, Pagerwesi is only observed by Hindu people in Indonesia. In India, where the Hindu religion originated, people celebrate Guru Purnima once a year and Walmiki Jayanti every full moon in October.

On Guru Purnima, Hindus worship Rsi Vyasa for making the Weda holy book, and Walmiki Jayanti celebrates Rsi Walmiki, who arranged the 24,000 sloka Ramayana, which comprise the knowledge that protects humans from evil.

“The celebration of Pagerwesi in Indonesia is similar to Guru Purnima and Walmiki Jayanti in India, that is to worship God as the teacher who guides us toward a holy life,” Wiana said.

Although Pagerwesi is a public holiday in Bali, junior high schools still held national fi nal exams as scheduled by the National Education Ministry.

“We are following the government’s schedule, so we are holding these exams on this Pagerwesi holiday,” Bali exam coordinator Ida Bagus Mertha said.

“It’s not a problem because the exam only took two hours. Students and teachers can go to the temples after the exams are over,” he added.

About 56,811 junior high-school students on the island are taking the exams, which run from April 25-28.

— Wasti Atmodjo contributed to this story from Denpasar