A week after the Kuningan festival, during which the Balinese Hindus renew their promise to defend darma (virtue) against adharma (vice), the people of Kesiman partake in an impressive temple festival, where dozens of devotees fall into a state of trance and stab their own bodies with daggers to show the world the power of their divine protectors. Staged in Pengrebongan temple in East Denpasar, the ritual known as ngrebong has evolved into a must-see event on the itinerary of the island’s tour operators.
Naturally, foreign visitors and throngs of photographers have become a permanent feature of the festival. For the people of Kesiman, which was once a kingdom feared for its powerful army, the ritual still fills their hearts with a sense of wonder and pride. Thousands of white-clad devotees performed a prayer before dozens of sacred effigies of Ratu Ayu (the Queen of Beauty), the silver-haired goddess with terrifying fangs and a flaming tongue, and the mythical lion, Barong, as well as small statues made of precious wood and gems known as pretima.
As the bearers of the sacred effigies prepared themselves by inhaling the smoke of the fragrant sandalwood fire, Kesiman’s young and adult males waited in expectation, wondering whether they would be the chosen warriors. Several men walked silently while they distributed the kris wavy daggers to the devotees. When the bearers fell into a trance, the attendants hurriedly put the masks of Ratu Ayu and barong on those bearers. At the first scream of Ratu Ayu, the kris-wielding devotees surrendered themselves to the divine.
They could still see and hear, but they had lost control of their bodies. They saw in amazement as their hands lifted the daggers and thrust the steel blades into various parts of their bodies. The blades inflicted no injury nor pain, a testament of the divine protection that renders their mortal body invulnerable. Kesiman people believe that ngrebong is a show of force aimed at striking terror into the heart of evil spirits. Through the ritual, the deities of Kesiman display their power and ability to protect their subjects.
source : bali daily
Naturally, foreign visitors and throngs of photographers have become a permanent feature of the festival. For the people of Kesiman, which was once a kingdom feared for its powerful army, the ritual still fills their hearts with a sense of wonder and pride. Thousands of white-clad devotees performed a prayer before dozens of sacred effigies of Ratu Ayu (the Queen of Beauty), the silver-haired goddess with terrifying fangs and a flaming tongue, and the mythical lion, Barong, as well as small statues made of precious wood and gems known as pretima.
As the bearers of the sacred effigies prepared themselves by inhaling the smoke of the fragrant sandalwood fire, Kesiman’s young and adult males waited in expectation, wondering whether they would be the chosen warriors. Several men walked silently while they distributed the kris wavy daggers to the devotees. When the bearers fell into a trance, the attendants hurriedly put the masks of Ratu Ayu and barong on those bearers. At the first scream of Ratu Ayu, the kris-wielding devotees surrendered themselves to the divine.
They could still see and hear, but they had lost control of their bodies. They saw in amazement as their hands lifted the daggers and thrust the steel blades into various parts of their bodies. The blades inflicted no injury nor pain, a testament of the divine protection that renders their mortal body invulnerable. Kesiman people believe that ngrebong is a show of force aimed at striking terror into the heart of evil spirits. Through the ritual, the deities of Kesiman display their power and ability to protect their subjects.
source : bali daily
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