Tetabuhan Arak, Berem, Tuak, and Cuka:
Butha Kala’s Drinks

Wherever you are traveling in Bali, it is easy to find the Balinese doing ritual activities. There are rituals held privately at home or at the family’s holy place, and those held collectively at the Pura (temple) or many other sacred places like the beach, water resources, at the market, rice field and involving the krama (member) of the village or banjar. Gambelan (traditional Balinese music) sound is played incessantly, the smoke of fragrant incense and the sound of the hand bell of Pemangku (Balinese priest) who recites various mantra, makes the situation very merry and full of magical enchantment.

The rituals that are performed by the Balinese are according to the concept of Panca Yadnya (5 kinds of rituals as the shape of honest and straight forward sacred sacrifice) there is Dewa Yadnya, the ritual that is presented to Sang Hyang Widhi with all of His manifestations, Pitra Yadnya the ritual that is dedicated to the pitara (ancestor), Butha Yadnya, a ritual to the Butha kala, Manusa Yadnya, a ritual for human beings, Rsi Yadnya, ritual for the Maha Resi. Those five kinds of rituals are aimed to keep the security and promote a harmonic life between Bhuwana Agung and Bhuwana Alit (the universe and all it contains).
Many kinds of sesajen (offering) that are dedicated during that ritual are a symbol of sincerity and purity of the Balinese for the gift of prosperity that is given by Sang Hyang Widhi, Gods and Goddess, the ancestor spirit, Maha Resi (Great priest), and still guarding the balance of the universe, the harmony of the power of nature, time and dimension (Butha Kala), and also the harmonic relationship between human beings.
The offering materials consist of solid substances, that is several Balinese cakes (jaja), fruits, meats, cooked rice, flowers, janur (young coconut leaf) and others. All these materials are arranged to create a beautiful, lovely, and tremendous sesajen (offering). Whereas the liquid substance contains arak, berem, tuak, cuka, and water. These liquid substances in this offering are called tetabuhan/tabuh, because the way to dedicate is by menabuhkan (pouring) it to the ground or besides the offering three times.
According to the Balinese faith, this tetabuhan of arak, tuak, berem, and cuka is because they are the favorite drinks of Butha Kala, magic creatures who also guard the safety of the universe. By giving the tribute in the form of their favorite foods and drinks, those creatures will never disturb the ritual celebration, then they also participate to keep the universe and human life in prosperity.
With the belief of Butha Kala, the mysterious power of nature in its various manifestations, many mysterious stories are spread between people. A lot of places in Bali, whether mountains, rivers, rice fields or a big trees are considered to be sacred because it is believed that magic creatures stay there. The information about the mysterious events, creatures, and places often become a hot story in many mass media that are published in Bali. A lot of Balinese traditional painters pour their ideas on canvas about mysterious creatures with scary faces, and the mystery of the universe is absorbed and transformed into paintings.
The drinks such as tuak, arak, berem, contain alcohol, and if consumed in a large quantities will cause ineberation. But, if just a little bit is taken, it will warm the body. During the rainy season like now, alcoholic drinks can be mixed with tea or coffee. Some say that arak mixed with certain spices or roots, is a strong potion and able to increase sexual desire.
Tetabuhan arak, berem, tuak, and cuka is one of the Balinese offerings dedicated to Butha Kala.

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