Customary Village in Bali Exist Since the Presence of Mpu Kuturan

Ngaben or cremation ceremony is one of the ritual activities
performed at customary village. (BTN/doc)

According to the lecturer of customary law of the Udayana University, Prof Dr. Nyoman Sirtha, the customary village in Bali was estimated to have existed since the presence of the sage Mpu Kuturan during the administration of Dalem Waturenggong. Earlier, in Bali lived and developed about nine schools of Hinduism that were worried to result in disharmony. The King Waturenggong asked Mpu Kuturan to take any measure to anticipate the matter.

Mpu Kuturan then unified the nine schools or sects into Shiva-Buddha. After organizing a congregation in the Samuan Tiga Temple, it was born the concept of customary village along with its trinity temple namely the Puseh Temple, Baleagung Temple and Dalem Temple. Pursuant to the concept of Tri Murti (trinity), each family temple was equipped with three-chambered shrine. Since then, the social and religious life in Bali was getting organized and better. The chief of customary village was called bendesa adat or uluampad. His responsibility was to lead the indigenous village related to religion and customary affairs. In carrying out the duties, the customary village was completed with by-laws in what the so-called awig-awig adat.

According to the book entitled Pemberdayaan Desa Pakraman (Empowerment of Customary Village) written by Prof. Dr. IB Gunadha, the by-laws regulated three key points namely harmonious relationship of human to God (Parahyangan), human to fellow humans (Pawongan) and human to its environment (Palemahan).

Meanwhile, based on the data of General Assembly Customary Village (MUDP) of Bali, there were totally 1,483 customary villages in Bali, where according to the data of Section Head of Customary Affairs of Bali Cultural Agency the customary hamlet amounted to 3,200 in 2009. Today, it was estimated to reach 2,700. (BTN/kmb)

Chinese New Year: Celebration in Lin Gwan Kiong Temple Accompanied by Angklung

Pecalang stood guard in front of the 

Ling Gwan Kiong temple when Chinese people from 

various regions went home to the town of Singaraja

to celebrate the Chinese New Year 2563 on Monday (Jan 23).

Celebration of Chinese New Year in a number of locations in Buleleng Subdistrict on Monday (Jan 23) took place solemnly. For example, in the Ling Gwan Kiong Temple, Kampung Tinggi, Chinese residents living in Buleleng and outside the region came to perform worship from early morning until the evening.

Interestingly, in this Chinese New Year celebration, a number of pecalang officers or customary security taskforce from customary villages were involved in the safeguarding so that prayers could run safely and smoothly. In addition, a different atmosphere was also visible in the Ling Gwan Kiong temple where the worship in the sanctum was also accompanied by angklung gamelan music commonly used by the Hindus in religious ceremonies in Bali.

Ling Gwan Kiong Temple is indeed a great temple in the town of Singaraja. An attendant of the temple, Hong, said that every celebration of Chinese New Year the worship was centered in the Ling Gwan Kiong temple. To add the solemnity in the celebration of Chinese New Year as well as to show off religious tolerance, the ritual committee of the temple presented the angklung gamelan troupe so the atmosphere of celebration in Buleleng was really different from elsewhere.

Similarly, the involvement of pecalang officers from Kampung Baru gave different nuance. Other than helping safeguard, their presence also made the celebration of Chinese New Year have an atmosphere of tolerance.

Earlier, on Sunday night (Jan 22), in the area of ​​Ling Gwan Kiong temple was also staged the lively Lion Dance. The performance was quite stunning and many people thronged the temple to see the typical attraction of Chinese art. Precisely at 00:00 p.m. Local Time, the Chinese descendants organized a joint worship and ignition of fireworks as the procession of releasing the year 2562 and welcoming the New Year 2563, known as the Year of the Water Dragon.