Pecalang or security officer of custom village cooperated with takmir, the coordinator of mosque to secure Easter celebration in Maria Bunda Segala Bangsa (Mother Mary, a Mother of All Nation) Church in Puja Mandala area, Nusa Dua. “We are helping by pecalang and mosque coordinator at Easter celebration as usual,” said the Secretary of Mother Mary Church, Alexandar Seni Kelen in Denpasar on Tuesday. Four pecalang from Bualu Village, South Kuta District, Badung are charged to watch Easter mass in the outside area of this church from Thursday (5/4) until Sunday (8/4).

Those custom officers are helped by the coordinators of Ibnu Batutah Mosque that lies next to this Catholic Church. “If there are Friday Pray in the mosque, our security officers are also helping to regulate the vehicles of the prayers,” said Alex. Puja Mandala has five different worship houses. The worship houses are available for Islam, Catholic, Christian, Hindu and Buddha prayers. This area is being certain attraction for tourists whether foreigners or domestic ones. Alex added the series of Easter Mass started on Sunday (1/4) Palma. It continued by Maundy Thursday mass (5/4) and Good Friday (6/4).
On Good Friday there are about 200 congregations who will follow Cross Walk ceremony in the church at 09.00 Wita. It will be followed by Cross Tribute at 15.00 Wita. There will be two mass for Saturday (7/4) until Sunday (8/4). It will be led by Father Evensius Dewantoro, Pr from Maria Bunda Segala Bangsa Church and Father Benediktus Denny Mari, Pr as a Rector of Holly Spirit Missionary School at Tuka, Dalung, Badung Regency.

Since it was being a Parish, Maria Bunda Segala Bangsa Church is blessed by new 500 congregations. Previously Catholic prayers who stayed in Kuta and Nusa Dua area were praying in Fransiscus Xaverius Saint Church on Kartika Plaza Street, Kuta. In this church the Mass session is using two languages: Indonesia and English. “There are about 100 foreign congregations from Europe, United States and Australia. Besides expat congregations, English-speaking mass is also followed by foreign holiday makers,” said Alex.

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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 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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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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He said Hindu believers from eight regencies and a city in Bali held “Jagra” which means the believers are not sleeping in Pura Besakih on Sunday night until dawn at Monday. The art performances are wayang, arja art and topeng bondres as they wished to deprive of sleepiness for Hindu believers who walking on ‘sleeping fasting’. The other art performances also may perform due to the artists who are coming from eight regencies and one city in Bali spontaneously will hold art performances around Pura Besakih.

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Attended this event, there were Badung Regent A.A. Gde Agung and his wife, the head of Badung Representatives Giri Prasta, Badung Secretary Kompyang R. Swandika, the head of Badung police Beny Arjanto with his wife, the head of B Commission of Badung House of Representatives Putu Parwata, Bishop of Protestant Church in Bali Priest I Made Budiarsa, Diocese Denpasar Priest Paskalis Widastra as the preacher, priests in Badung and whole of staffs in Badung government.

Regent Gde Agung stated his proud due to since this central government office built, this building was advantaging for Christmas celebration by Christians in Badung. This central government built for the interest of Badung people to serve Badung people. “So it is proper if it used for people in welcoming their feast day,” said Gde Agung. Regent felt this Christmas celebration is great due to Kertha Gosana which have 350 persons capacity fulfilled by 500 Christians in Badung. This Christmas event was giving peaceful vibration as the form of religion harmony.

The Head of Badung Representatives Giri Prasta delivered his appreciation for this Christmast event. He hoped this celebration giving new nuance for Christians in Badung. Mr Giri also suggests celebrating Christmas 2012 in House of Representatives Badung building. The chairman of this Christmas committee Jansen Panjaitan reported this massive Christmas celebration aiming to tight relationship between Christians in Badung. Christians in Badung also shows their caring toward poor people in Badung while Jansen Panjaitan represented the congregations to hand over some aids to the Regent Badung A.A. Gde Agung to distribute the aid.

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The Head of Central Dwijendra Foundation Denpasar, Drs. Ida Bagus Gede Wiyana was giving dharma wacana to invite Hindu devotees in Dwijendra enjoying soft tone of gamelan piodalan as one form of Satwika Yadnya. He was even giving prize to go to Sea Games for free for students who can answer question about Satwika Yadnya. Ida Bagus Gede Wiyana said if we are doing yadnya with unclear heart, it called Tamasika Yadnya. If we have not a heart in the central of yadnya, we are only thinking to get some food after piodalan also deemed himself contributing biggest role in this yadnya. It called Rajasika Yadnya. Yadnya in Dwijendra, said him, is a honest yadnya that called Satwika Yadnya.

Further Ida Bagus Gede Wiyana said about seven elements of Satwika Yadnya. Firstly yadnya should base on Holly Weda. Second element is it should do by sincere heart. Third element is yadnya needs a leader. It called tri manggala yadnya. Tri manggala yadnya covers amuja (sulinggih), tapini (offerings artisan) and manggala karya. These three elements should unite while the fourth is offering fund and punia. The fifth element is panca githa (percussion, pesantian, bell, kekidungan yadnya and dances). The sixth one is Anasewa (attention and offerings). The last element is the absence of arrogance and harsh words that called naas mitha.

In the other side Ida Bagus Gede Wiyana said piodalan comes from word ‘wedal’ means born. In parahyangan Dwijendra, there is palinggih like padmasana, ratu penyarikan, ratu gede and others. It is fitted with Hindu religion principal as it named lingga-yoni. Lingga is a God (sit in palinggih) and yoni is ourselves. If purusa and predhana are not united, said him, human will not born. If parahyangan Dwijendra or merajan has not received people pray or canang, Hindu devotees will lose everything. It is the function of odalan. Palinggih will be only a stone if yoni is not doing anything. For those reasons, Dwijendra people asked not to hurry due to odalan. There are four elements in a piodalan. They are Dharma, Artha, Kama (a will of closing God) to reach Moskhartam Jagaditha ya Caiti Dharma.

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He said his side had coordinated with regional government while it is supported by real condition in Bali about the amount of students and teachers. “We wished this data can be foundation for regional government in taking policy of Hindu religion teacher hiring in Bali,” said him. Fulfillment of teacher necessity, said him, is so important due to few years later many Hindu religion teachers will retire. Further each pasraman (nonformal institution of Hindu religion education) in villages will filled by Hindu Religion teachers.

“Young generation response to be Hindu Religion teacher is actually good enough as it marked by increasing students amount significantly in each universities in Bali for Hindu religion subject. Now we are only waiting the commitment of regional government,” said him. Suthayasa said the lack of religion teacher is not only happening in Bali but also in any provinces of Indonesia. Biggest need is in Bali especially for its elementary school.

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The participants consist of children, teenagers and adults who will follow six competitions: sloka, palawakya, kekawin, mecepat, kidung and dharma wacana. The grand jury comes from each district but when the district representative competed, jury team of same district is not allowed to assess. “It is urged reliable assessment objectivity,” said Suarta. Taking the theme of ‘Melarapan Utsawa Dharma Gita Ngiring Telebang Ajaran Suci Veda Tur Ngelimbakang Swadharmaning Agama,’ it aimed for young generation to have strong fortress in facing challenging globalization era.

Further it is giving deeper religion acknowledgment sourced on Veda holly teachings through Utsawa Dharma Gita competition. He said Utsawa Dharma Gita this year will hold for three days from 24-26 October 2011 in wantilan and outside area of Pura Desa Peguyangan Kaja, North Denpasar. It began by performance of each participant then some participants of mekidung and dharma wacana performed in the first day. Each of them kept hard effort to perform the best through expression, rhythm including matching outfit.

Evening schedule being closure event but also contains macepat competition for kids and sloka competition for adults. In the other side the Head of Culture Division Made Mudra in the middle of this competition said utsawa dharma gita regularly held each year to dig, preserve and developing traditional art of Bali. Further it also aimed to understanding Hindu teachings as it sourced from Veda holly teaching. Mudra thanked to all of Peguyangan people especially Jro Bendesa and his staff on behalf of Denpasar Government.

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This tradition usually did on Fourth Full Moon (Purnama Kapat) or others day that usually called rahina nadi or very good day. For example Pakraman Village Kerobokan holding pakelem ceremony or nyekar on Fourth Full Moon. In the other side Sinabun Village holding it a day after Fourth Full Moon. Keloncing Village took different day. It is usually taking certain day then the villagers met in Kerobokan Beach area since the morning. Pakraman villagers holding ‘makemit’ by bringing any sizes of bamboo. The bamboos will use to built a kind of little hut off shore.

The simple hut made by sukla cloth (cloth that never been used) as well its wall. In this hut villagers slept or took a rest as part of nyekar ceremony. After it had passing 00.00 Wita, villagers looked busy to prepare peak of ceremony that called nyekar or pakelem. Pakelem ceremony usually holding at 03.00 Wita or it should be before sun rising. This ceremony contains an activity of floating sekah into the sea or floating offerings such as sesajen and canang sari also incense stick by using the stem of banana. The stem made into square form. Jro Mangku Made Sudirtha, pemangku in Pakraman Village Kerobokan said nyekar ceremony is a thankful expression to Ida Sang Hyang Widhi due to the ceremony in wewidangan of pakraman village holding well.

“The ceremony expressing our thank to the God but also an impression of apologize for our mistakes along the ceremony. Then it is being our start to walk on our life in pakraman village,” said him. According to him, nyekar ceremony procession in Kerobokan Beach has been tradition. Though it has been modern age, people were enthusiast in following nyekar procession. Before there are any kinds of transportation mode, people were walking to the Kerobokan Beach. But now people are using vehicles such as motor cycle or four wheels vehicle. “The importance of the ceremony is not shifted. It is only modern age,” said Mangku Sudirtha. The interesting fact is villagers usually inviting their family as part of this custom ceremony. It is then being an event to meet each other. Villagers also brought food to eat together off shore besides offerings. They were enjoying the beauty of sunset, waves, and eat together after they were following ceremony together.

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