Ngaben, which literally means 'turning into ashes', is one of the most special rituals in Hinduism and is practiced by the deeply spiritual Balinese community. They believe that life, along with death, is a transitional process. Furthermore, there is also the Pelebon - a cremation ceremony specifically held for members of the royal family.

In mid-April, Ubud will host a grand cremation ceremony to honor the departure of Tjokorda Bagus Santaka, who passed away on February 2, 2024. Tjokorda Bagus Santaka was the eldest son of the late Tjokorda Agung Suyasa, who served as the pengelingsir (guardian) of Ubud Royal Palace.

The peak of the cremation ceremony will take place on Sunday, April 14, 2024. All of krama banjar (community members) will gather to collectively carry the Lembu (large bull), Naga Banda (symbolized Dragon), and purpose-built Bade, which stands at over 25 meters high, on their shoulders over a distance of approximately 1 km, taking turns. The funeral procession will proceed from Ubud Royal Palace to the cemetery at Dalem Puri Temple, Peliatan.

The preparation for the series of cremation ceremonies has started well in advance, considering the size of the Bade, Lembu, and Naga Banda that will be constructed as the final conveyance for the deceased towards heaven. Tourists can also witness these preparations as they are conducted in the vicinity of Ubud Royal Palace. This cremation ceremony will be a highly unique and rarely occurring event. So, if you have the opportunity to witness it firsthand, consider yourself very fortunat

Save the Date!

Date: April 14th 2024

Place: Ubud Royal Palace

Mekepung is a buffalo racing event originating from the Jembrana Regency in Bali. The term "Mekepung" is derived from the Balinese expression "makepung-kepungan," meaning "chasing each other." It is an intangible cultural heritage of Indonesia from the Jembrana Regency, Bali. The origins of Mekepung can be traced back to Jembrana farmers who relied on buffaloes to plow their fields.

During this process, farmers would urge the buffaloes to move as fast as possible so that the land could be worked more quickly. It was from these activities that the concept of buffalo racing emerged. Initially, Mekepung served only as entertainment for the Jembrana farmers during their leisure time. However, as time passed, the appeal of Mekepung expanded and attracted a wider audience, encompassing various social circles.

Date: June 2024

Place: Jembrana

The Bhinneka Pantai Jerman Culture Festival is an event that showcases cultural arts performances such as the Bapang Barong and Mekendang Tunggal Festival, Legong Keraton Dance, Spearfishing Competition, MSME Bazaar, Exhibition of Plastic Residue Processed Products, and an innovative Female Kecak Dance performance. In addition to artistic performances, this festival also hosts various activities aimed at environmental preservation such as the release of hatchlings into the sea and Beach Clean-Up Movement.

The goal of the Bhinneka Pantai Jerman Culture Festival is to introduce the Jerman Beach to tourists. Thus, through this event, it is expected to have a positive impact on MSME actors or tourism actors in Jerman Beach.

Date: June 2024

Place: Jerman Beach, Kuta

Tanah Lot Art and Culture Festival is an event that encompasses Art, culture, culinary, and exhibition activities are combined into a unified concept that prioritizes the local potential of Tabanan, with active participation from the local millennial generation. This festival offers a wide range of entertainment and classical arts, as well as local Tabanan cuisine. Interestingly, the festival, which will be held in the middle of June, 2024, will be enlivened by the Gebogan parade, which will be showcased every day throughout the festival.

This festival is expected to boost visits to Tanah Lot. The offerings of the festival are popular among both locals and tourists. In its implementation, the festival also includes a SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) exhibition aimed at boosting the local economy. The products of SMEs and cottage industries are well-received and popular among tourists. Examples include coconut shell crafts, colorful handicrafts from small industries, and more.

Save the Date:

Date: In the middle of June (around 22-25) 2024

Place: Tanah Lot Beach

Mekare-kare Tradition: The pandan Wars of Tenganan Pegringsingan 

One of the yearly highlights at Desa Adat Tenganan Pegringsingan (Traditional Village of Tenganan Pegringsingan) is Mekare-kare, the vibrant pandan wars that mark the ‘climax’ of their ritual calendar.The pandan war  procession or mekare-kare in Tenganan is a ceremonial offering to honor the ancestors and Dewa Indra, the God of War. The most visible rituals include: Manyunan, where all of the young daha (young women), dressed head-to-toe in their best gringsing cloth and other accoutrements, take their seats on age-old ritual swings, which are then turned by the teruna (young men). The swing is symbolic of the cyclical nature of life — these young Tengananese to keep the wheels turning another generation.

Then comes the Pandan Wars. Taking place in front of one of the bale petemuan pavilions, the stage is set for battle. The young teruna men take their turns to face an opponent with bunched, thorny pandan leaves in one hand and a rattan shield in the other. Then, to the tune of the sacred selonding gamelan, the fights begin. Chaotic scenes as each warrior scrambles and wrestles in an effort to grate the skin of their opponent with the sharp thorns of the pandan.

The Tenganan Pegringsingan Culture Festival

The Tenganan Culture Festival is organized by the Karangasem Regency government as an effort to increase tourism visits. This can be seen from the increasing number of tourists visiting Tenganan during the major ceremonies, and the tradition of the Pandan War. In the Tenganan Pegringsingan Festival, dozens of Karangasem's typical Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (UMKM) participate in exhibitions, and competitions are held as a way to unearth the creativity of the youth in Karangasem.

“The Largest international forum in the water sector involving various staekholders, which has been invented by the World Water Coucil.” The Forum is held every three years and has been taking place since 1997. The World Water Forum is not just a conference: it includes a three-year preparation phase (preparatory phase), a one-week event (event phase), and a presentation of the results (synthesis WORLD WATER FORUM phase) with ongoing support for collective action. The Forum brings together participants from all levels and areas, including politics, multilateral institutions, academia, civil society and t h e private sector, among others. Over the years, the number of people participating in the Forum has grown from a few hundred to tens of thousands, from both the international community and host countries. During the week of May 2024, the heads of state, the heads of international organizations, high level government officials, experts, scholars, entrepreneurs and economists from all over the world will share their knowledges, experiences, and practices regarding a wide range of topics related to water.