Bangli, Peace and Harmony

‘’Tumpek Ngatag’’,
a Momentum of Environmental Care

The tradition of holding the ceremony of tumpek ngatag, conducted by Balinese people, aims at caring the surrounding environment. Actually, we never stop the implementation of this ceremony and also contemplate the meaning, it denotes, according to Sang Made Wardana, of the Bangli Cleanness and Landscape Office.

Wardana observed many positive values of the society who direct the efforts of environmental preservation. For example, people’s habits to plant various kinds of flowers both at home or in sacred places like merajan or temple, in which the flower can be picked any time for offerings and prayer needs.
Based on the pawukon calendar that is commonly known in Bali, as tumpek ngatag that falls on Saturday Kliwon, Wuku Wariga is celebrated every 210 days (6 months). For this time, tumpek ngatag falls on Saturday 20 December 2003.
The celebration of Tumpek Ngatag is commonly known as oton (anniversary) of kekayon (plants). At this celebration, Balinese people (Hindu devotees) put offerings as the expression of gratitude to the Almighty God on His bestowal to create plants as resources for the prosperity of mankind.
In Bangli Regency where most people work in the agricultural sector, their life depends very much on farming, so tumpek ngatag celebrations are said to have a special meaning. According to the Customary Village Chief of Jehem Village, sub district of Tembuku, Bangli, I Made Widana, Sm.Hk., said that all villagers put offerings to ask the Almighty God to allow all plants to bear many fruits to fulfill human needs. The procession is begun by nunas tirta (asking for holy water) in front of the Bethara Hyang Guru (ancestor), followed by putting offerings for plants, and the sprinkling of holy water as mentioned above.
Based on the traditions of prayer/mantra that always require the putting of offerings at the celebration of tumpek ngatag states as follows: “Jero Sedahan Kayonan, titiang mapangarah, Galungan malih 25 rahina, odalan jerone mangkin, jerone mangde selamet – sadya rahayu – mangda mabuah nged, mangda dados tunas titiang, yen jerone tan nged mebuah lakar tektek tiang anggon tityang lakar”. (It literally means: Dear Master of plants, I’ll let you know, Galungan Holiday is in next 25 days, it’s now your celebration, hoping you’re fine and will bear many fruits, hopefully you will allow me to pick your fruits, if you don’t, I’ll cut you for timber.)
Based on the prayer recital, I Made Widana clearly mentiones that people should ask gracefully so that they will obtain abundant crops. Consequently, they can fulfill the needs of Galungan that will come in next 25 days. According to Widana, this prayer indicates how close the relationship of human beings is to their environment, which supplies their daily necessities. There is no other resource of them, but the Almighty God. The philosophy of Tri Hita Karana teaches human beings to maintain harmony to the three sources of happiness in this world, namely God, the environment and human beings themselves. (BTN/Suka)