The cloudy weather was not prevent thousands people to watch dialogue and Balinese dances. The sound of gamelan Bali was featuring with the scent of incense and flowers to add the honor of Balinese Templefest. The festival brought by Hindu People Indonesia United in Berlin.

Nyama Braya Berlin worked with the coordinator of World Park Berlin and Indonesia Embassy in Berlin also Religion Ministry Indonesia that imported 61 students of Hindu Indonesia University to show the majesty of Bali culture to the German people. Purno Widodo said the drama of Calon Arang was the main attraction of Balinese Temple Fest in this park. Previously there were kinds of Balinese dances like Kebyar Duduk Dance, Jauk Manis and Legong Keraton. Two days ago those Balinese dances also performed in Ethnology Museum Berlin. Indonesia Ambassador for General Republic German also welcoming this event as it is accessed as the part of diplomacy to tight both countries.

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He said the foreigner visit expected to increase by increasing cultural art activities in this museum complex. “Though the distance of Denpasar and Badung Regency is far enough but tourists from the eastern area in Bali had visited this museum,” said Gunarsa, the former of Indonesia Art Institute lecturer (ISI) Jogjakarta. Gunarsa added this museum is most visited museum in eastern area of Bali.

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Neka Art Museum in artist village Ubud, Gianyar Regency along 2011 had succeeded to add 55 magic keris that increasing its collection into 212 pieces of keris. Some of them aged hundreds years and they believed having magical value. “Besides we are also having 312 other artistic things such as paintings and statues,” said the founder also the coordinator of first private museum in this country, Pande Wayan Suteja Neka in Ubud on Tuesday.

He said these keris collection generally aged hundreds years and they gained from hard hunting process. They are coming from any villages in Bali also other areas in Indonesia. Some 21 of them are the kingdom’s heritage in Bali such as Ki Baju Rantai keris from Karangasem Palace and Ki Gajah Petak keris from Kanginan Palace Singaraja, Buleleng. There are also Ki Belang Uyang keris from Gianyar Palace and other 100 ancient keris from any parts of Indonesia.

Mr Pande Neka added some of those collection are also categorized into Kamardikan Keris that made by ‘empu’. They aged more than 50 years. “Our keris collection displayed in museum for public including foreigners along with hundreds paintings and statues,” said him. This museum will prepare for its 30th anniversary that marked by the launching of “Keris Taksu” book on 7 July 2012.

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A grand jury team started to assess 150 ogoh-ogoh in Denpasar. The headman of Cultural Department Denpasar Made Mudra accompanied by the chairman of Public Relation Division Denpasar Dewa Gede Rai yesterday said the ogoh-ogoh assessment had done since 12 March until today (15/3). According to him, there are 150 ogoh-ogoh that registered to follow this competition from the total of 360 Youth Groups in Denpasar. “The total of 150 ogoh-ogoh then assessed to result 5 best ogoh-ogoh from each sub district. These best ogoh-ogoh will be parade in Catur Muka later,” said him.

The total of 150 ogoh-ogoh are coming from West Denpasar as much as 36 ogoh-ogoh, 44 ogoh-ogoh are coming from North Denpasar, 48 ogoh-ogoh from East Denpasar and South Denpasar contributes 22 ogoh-ogoh. Those ogoh-ogoh accessed by jury team that represented academician, custom figures, cultural figures and religion figures. The assessment criterion covers the suitability of ogoh-ogoh with the theme, creativity and its suitability with theme and expression. The five biggest ogoh-ogoh per sub district will get training fund as much as Rp7,9 million. Previously government also giving STT creativity fund as much as Rp3,5 million per STT.

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Introducing Bali in the Eastern Europe area, Temperre City, Finland, tens traditional Balinese paintings exhibited there. The exhibition takes place in Temperre Art Museum in which there are 40 traditional Balinese paintings decorating the museum’s wall. The 40 traditional Balinese paintings were made by 30 different artists as they were Balinese fine art maestro from any generations. Their paintings then collected by the owner of Sahadewa museum in Batuan, Gianyar.

According to the owner of Sahadewa museum, Dewa Gede Sahadewa, the enthusiasm of visitors in this country is amazing. “The enthusiasm of painting lovers in this country is unbelievable as it is the first time of contemporary Balinese paintings to exhibit there,” said Mr Sahadewa yesterday.

The exhibition which is started from 18 February until 22 April is really advantaged by art lovers in this country. He confessed the high enthusiasm of western people to know more about the art style of Bali especially its contemporary style. “Many visitors wanted to buy the exhibited paintings but unfortunately the paintings were not sold,” said him.

One of the most favorite painting is a painting entitled ‘Reformasi’ (‘Reformation’). It is the master piece of Wayan Bendi that made in 1998. Then the icon of Batuan art style is the masterpieces of Nyoman Ngendon (1903-1947) that exhibited there. Further Museum Sahadewa is still preparing to launch as it will be a museum that displaying Batuan styled paintings collection. According to Mr Sahadewa, the launching planned to hold on upcoming June along with Bali Art Festival (PKB) 2012.

The museum has been a dream of Mr Sahadewa since 25 years ago. Now the museum will be built in his house in Gede Batuan Village, Sukawati, Gianyar as it will bring the name of the owner, Sahadewa. The presence of this Batuan styled painting museum will complete the museum collection of Gianyar. This museum had collected 800 original Batuan paintings from any places and 350 paintings which will be on display. A French painting observer, Jean Couteau mentioned Batuan paintings now spreading around Europe. “World’s collectors are interested with Batuan paintings due to they were magical,” said him.

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The chairman of Religion Ministry Bali Drs. IGAK Suthayasa, M.Si. accompanied by the chairman of Public Relation Division Nyoman Arya, S.Ag., M.Pd.H., yesterday to deliver collective statement about Nyepi Day on upcoming Friday (23/3). “Saka New Year 1934 will be on Friday 23 March 2012 and we are delivering collective statement to encourage the celebration of Nyepi Day,” said him.

The statement said Hindu people wished to hold Catur Brata Penyepian well in accord with the official letter of central PHDI and PHDI Bali. Moslem people wished to hold their Friday pray in nearest mosque on feet. Other Moslem people who stayed far away from the mosque could use other facility in their environment after it has been discussed with local village officers. Loudspeaker arranged only for the worshippers in the mosque and it would only heard inside. Other believers wished to adjust themselves with this silence day. There are no firecrackers and other hard voices that disturbed the sacredness of Nyepi Day. Suthayasa added, “Ogoh-ogoh is not including to this statement due to it belongs to the authority of Pakraman Village Assembly. Government side is not limited people to make ogoh-ogoh due to it is one of ‘nyomia bhutakala’ creativity at ‘pengerupukan’ but it should be safe, comfortable and peaceful for others.

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The art of leather puppet in Buleleng actually still alive. It records there are tens puppeteer in North Bali to enliven puppet show in some villages of Buleleng. The Head of Custom Department from Cultural and Tourism Office (Disbudpar) Buleleng, Ketut Warkandea yesterday said puppet art in Buleleng actually still existed. It proved by the flock of puppet performances at custom ceremonies in the villages of North Bali.

Even Buleleng is still inviting leather puppet performance by turns in Pura Manik Dalang, Pemaron Village. Encouraging the growth of puppet art in Buleleng, Buleleng government facilitated the Puppeteer Community Buleleng. The community is shaping an official place for the existence of puppet art in Buleleng. “This community will ease the data collection of puppeteer in the future so the puppeteer could get more attention from the government,” said him.

Jro Dalang Nyoman Rugada established as the chairman while he will be helped by its partner, Jro Dalang Made Wijana as the vice deputy. The organization then supported by a coordinator for each sub district. Further Regent Putu Bagiada established as the patroness of the puppeteer community. They will soon inaugurate officially by Buleleng Regent so they can hold soon internal coordination for collecting data. The interesting fact is the community will hold wayang festival in Municipal Park Singaraja for different themes weekly as it will begin on 18 February.

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The closing pray also read by Islam priest, KH Burhanudin in Denpasar though some Hindu religion figures were attended this event. The food that served to the guests also fitted with Moslem people taste such as kebuli rice. It is a special food from Middle East. Puri Gerenceng people is also serving ‘lawar’ as the main menu of Galungan day to couple kebuli rice. ‘Lawar’ is usually made by pork but this time Puri’s people made it from mutton.

“All of the food is ‘halalan thoyyiban’ due to we are inviting Moslem people,” said Puri Gerenceng figure, Anak Agung Ngurah Agung as the host. According to him, this event has been a tradition of Puri Gerenceng family. “We are obliged to preserve ancestor’s tradition,” said the chairman of Hindu-Moslem Bali Brotherhood (PHMB). Mr Ngurah Agung added this activity is also aiming to tight the relationship of Hindu and Moslem people in Bali.

“We are strongly keeping religion harmony in Bali. Local people is realized if newcomers are coming to this island to make a living,” said him. Instead of drinking alcohol drinks, Galungan should celebrated by strengthening communication with others,” said Ngurah Agung. Besides KH Burhanudin, some Hindu religions were also attending this event. They are Jro Mangku Gajah and some headmen of the village in Denpasar. This event is also attended by the headman of Millitary Command Section 163/Wira Denpasar, Lieutenant Colonel (Inf) Agus Wernugroho.

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Instant penjor is being most sought item for welcoming Galungan Day. It appears on the lavish order of instant penjor. In a day instant penjor customer can reach 100 persons. They are usually choosing this instant penjor due to it priced reasonably.

Penjor instant priced Rp100,000 per piece. This price has including sanggah cucuk so buyers only needed to prepare the offerings. “Buyers are conveniently releasing any difficulties to make penjor,” said Kompyang, a penjor seller in Kaswari Street, Jambe Village, Tabanan on Sunday (29/1). This man confessed he had flooded by instant penjor order since Saturday (18/1). His customer is usually asking instant penjor.

However making penjor is not difficult. Kompyang added some workers to finish this seasonal order. Attracting buyer’s interest, Kompyang chose to sell his penjor in the edge of the road. The peak of penjor order is today (30/1) due to on Tuesday (31/1) noon all of penjor obliged to set up in front of people houses.

Besides instant penjor, Kompyang and his brother, Dobler were also providing penjor materials such as bamboo, sampian, sanggah cucuk and flag. The bamboo priced in range Rp15,000 – Rp25,000 per piece depending on its size. Sanggah cucuk priced Rp6,000 per piece and sampian priced in range Rp6,000 – Rp15,000 per piece. The bamboo stick mostly coming from Pupuan, said Kompyang. But this year he is getting much young bamboo stick. Decreasing bamboo seed is causing by piodalan season along this year.

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The foods were including noodle and wine to welcoming New Year. Amurva Bhumi Monastery priest, Chua Sing Liang said the noodle offering formed our wish to beg long age, safety and prosperity in our life. In the other side the twelve kinds of food is dominated by local crops due to in China, Chinese New Year at first celebrated by farmers.

Besides the twelve foods, there are red cup cakes. The sweet cake is being a wish for happiness in our life. “The cake has been obligatory thing for whom did New Year pray in this monastery,” said him. According to him, since morning his monastery filled by Chinese people whether local people or foreigners.

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