Bali Travel Blog

'Tumpek', Balinese Sacred Day

Balinese community belongs to the religious one. In other words, all social activities are at all times based on the Hindu teachings. In the calendrical system, there is a term 'Tumpek' in Bali falling once in every 210 days as the summit momment of the god's endowment to human beings (Sundarigama manuscript).

Tumpek Landep is marked with the symbol of kris dagger (weapon) having the meaning to sharpen the intellectuality of Balinese humans.

Tumpek Wariga and Tumpek Uye are indicated with the symbol of appreciation towards the bio-life of which conservation should be maintained, as it becomes the wellspring for the survival of human life.

Tumpek Kuningan is a moment of introspection on dharma (the eternal law of the cosmos) to remind the human beings so they endeavour to archieve the profane and spiritual serenity.

Tumpek Wayang is an appreciation towards the value of arts coming in expression of beauty and nobility.

Tumpek Krulut is the veneration of God coming down to earth in his manifestation as Shiva Nataraja as the creator of the universe presenting the sounds, namely sets of gamelan instruments.

Tumpek Krulut is derived from lulut meaning harmony and concord. This meaning is manifested into the combination of musical elements consisting the fusion of rhythm, melody, harmony and dynamic. Blend of these elements essentially reflects the relationship of human life to several expertise and professions however, they remain to be socially integrated.

In Denpasar, particularly at Tenten Hamlet, the celebration of Tumpek Krulut takes place joyously. Local people assemble together at the village hall to attend several ritual processions. Various gamelan music compositions are played, such as the angklung, gong and semar pegulingan.

Celebration of Tumpek is a moment of harmonic revitalization for human beings in general and Balinese community in particular.

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Saraswati Day

Balinese Hindu believes that knowledge is an essential medium to achieve the goal of life as a human being. Saraswati Day is celebrated to honor God as source of the knowledge. God, in this particular celebration, is manifested as Saraswati Dewi, Goddess Saraswati.

She is depicted as a beautiful lady with four hands holding a musical instrument, meditation bead chain, as well as palm leaf manuscript. Many times the Saraswati is depicted to be standing on the swan. The beautiful lady is a symbol that the knowledge is attractive by many people. The musical instrument symbolized the knowledge is entertaining, the more you are into it the more beautiful and interesting it can be. The manuscript (or book) is where the knowledge is kept. The chain is a symbol that knowledge is never finish to learn, there is no beginning and ending.

Similar to other religious rites in Bali, Saraswati day also has various religious steps before and after the actual day. Six days before Saraswati is Pemelastali , a day to free our selves from worldly desire. Four days and the following days before Saraswati are called Paid Paidan, Urip and Patetegan which mean days to control desire, constantly do introspection by holding the purity of the knowledge. On day before Saraswati is called Pengeredanaan, a day to prepare Saraswati Day both spiritually and physically. Book are collected, cleaned and placed in properly places. Special offerings are made to be used for the following celebration.

Saraswati Day is celebrated every 210-days on Saniscara Umanis Wuku Watugunung based on Balinese Pawukon (cycles) calender. On the actual day of Saraswati , offering are placed on the books and shrines. Worships are held at the temples in family compound, villages, businesses and others from morning to noon. Prime worships are held in school's temples attended by its student and teachers. In the afternoon and evening is a good time to held religious discussion.

The following day of Saraswati is called Banyupinaruh, a day to have spiritual and physical cleansing. Normally Balinese will go to nearby beaches or water spring or river to have the special bathing. Worship will also be held in the village temples or other respective temples afterward.

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Nusa Dua Fiesta 2007

The Bali Tourism Development Corporation (BTDC) have announced the dates for the Nusa Dua Fiesta 2007 as October 18-21, 2007 centered at the Peninsula Island at Nusa Dua. Nusa Dua Fiesta 2007 is the new name born in the new festival theme that was previously entitled Nusa Dua Festival.

The Peninsula, covering 5 landscaped hectares on a promontory in the Indian Ocean, offers an attractive venue for the four days of activities including culture, fashion, food, arts, sports, music and exhibitions. Designed to appeal to an audience of all ages, Fiesta 2007 will present traditional arts performances from Bali as well as other provinces across the Indonesian archipelago. The event will also showcase the talents of renowned Balinese musicians including Balawan & Batuan Etnik, a wortld-famous Balinese guitarists backed up by his ethnically-inspired band.

Apart from art and cultural performances, there is also a program dedicated to expose the potential of Indonesian tourism products such as agribusiness, handicraft and gifts, garments and textiles, traditional snacks, tourism services, accessories, interior products, leather products and microproducts too.

It is expected that the Nusa Dua Fiesta with its new identity would become a major attraction not only to tourists in the homeland but also attract global visitors, chiefly from the Asia Pacific region. Similarly, this cultural activity is expected to increase the market share from 22% to 29%.

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Ubud Writers & Readers Festival 2007

The Ubud Writers & Readers Festival is one of the peak literary events in the Asian region. In 2006, the Festival was named ‘one of the world’s great book events’ by Conde Nast Traveler and ‘among the top six literary Festivals in the world’ by Harper’s Bazaar.

The 2007 Festival will live up to this reputation with six days of rousing discussions, creative workshops, book launches, luscious literary lunches and dinners, a free children’s program plus poetry, theater, film, music and dance —an exhilarating program in one of the world’s most beautiful settings.

Hong Kong writer, Nury Vittachi, has called the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival 'a magical and mystical mix of East and West' and given our choice of theme for 2007, Sekala-Niskala | The Seen & Unseen, you can understand why!

The 2007 Festival explores new frontiers with writers from the South Korea, East Timor and Sweden. They will join award-winning writers, poets, playwrights, filmmakers and performers from Indonesia, Asia, Australia, England, Canada, France, United States, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and beyond in an unforgettable exchange of culture and ideas.

It all adds up to a tropical heat wave of inspiration and excitement!

Tickets on-sale from 1 July. For more information, visit www.ubudwritersfestival.com

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Sanur Village Festival August 15-19, 2007

It originated from a few minds and the desire to increase the image of Sanur as one of the prominent tourism destinations in Bali. After a brainstorming session, members of the Yayasan Pembangunan Sanur concluded with a yearly event to bring the Sanur tourism community and the local community together through a week-long event dedicated to increase the cultural aspects of the area. Hence the Sanur Village Festival was established for the first time in 2006.

This year the event will be held from 15 – 19th August 2007 at the Inna Grand Bali Beach and Segara Beach carrying the theme “Fun and Cultural Event”. Various activities allow opportunities for development and showcase of cultural skills as well as competitions to even exhibitions.

Designed to be "bigger and better" than last year's inaugural event, the Sanur Village Festival 2007 is being organized by the Sanur Development Foundation - an organization comprised of Sanur Village residents and businesses dedicated to promoting and preserving the native charm of Bali's oldest cultural-tourism destination.

Emphasis on Fun & Culture

In keeping with the tone set at the inaugural event, this year's Sanur Village Festival will feature a whole range of activities, including:
• A cooking competition
• Food festival and bazaar
• Cultural performances
• Cultural parade
• DJ parade
• Fun bike and city tour
• Under water festival
• Water sports competition
• Traditional boat competition
• Surfing and kite surfing
• Wind surfing
• Kayaking and canoeing
• Bonsai and Adenium exhibition
• Painting exhibition
• Cartoon exhibition
• Golf tournament
• Rugby tournament
• Kite contest
• Mass yoga practice
• Pillow fights & fun games
• Jazz festival

Ensure you schedule your next visit to Sanur around this time as Sanur becomes a fun, hustling and bustling village full of activities for all the family!
For detail information, see http://www.bali-sanurvillage.com

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