Denpasar, In the City

Sekaa of Gong Kebyar Women, Sanur
“Menabuh” for the “Meyadnya”

Over time, gong kebyar was identified with men. When a woman was given a break, they took up the opportunity not willing to fail, many sekaa (group) gong kebyar have emerged consisting of women from the countryside all over Bali. One of them is the Woman Gong Kebyar ‘ Sekar Sandat’, of Banjar Dangin Peken, Sanur, East Denpasar. In every appearance, this group that consists of mothers is always an attraction, which sometimes, by asserting the body and hand movements and smiles are able to delight the audience

A new sekaa gong, SGW Sekar Sandat was able to come out as the winner in the Women’s Gong Kebyar Competition of Denpasar City. This competition was performed in Puputan Badung Park, in September 2004 also this sekaa gong that was formed 5 years ago also got the same achievement in the previous year.
Kembar Aryini, the Team Activator Chief of PKK ( woman organization in village), Banjar Dangin Peken tells, menabuh (playing the musical instrument) is one of skill for meyadnya (execute a charity ceremonial activity), especially at rituals or other custom activity. The idea of forming a woman sekaa gong, according to her is to negate the gender difference in all aspect in Bali, as well as to support the governmental program in realizing Denpasar Town with culture vision, and also as preserving efforts of inheritance art. “We wish to prove that Balinese women are ready to conduct what is done by a man like playing this gong kebyar,” she said while enhancing, competition existence will pump the spirit of its members.
The major target of this sekaa is to ngayah (performing charity staging) at the temple, also spent in spare time when family duty is finished. “We have to cast aside a bit of time for social activities, no matter how busy we are,” she said
Coordinator of SGW Sekar Sandat said that this sekaa own 37 penabuh (instrumentalists), and 8 reverse instrumentalists. They were trained and founded by 15 trainers. For tabuh type, they have mastering a lot of gending (songs). For example, Creation Tabuh of Tri Udaya Sandhi, Tabuh Lelambatan of Crucuk Punyah and other tabuh in line with Balinese dances.
The group always works along with the neighborhood component inclusively with village apparatus. As a housewife, she is aware of their ‘domestic work’, which must be done, like managing children, family, and also duty at work. “Fortunately, in musical presentations, we do not find any difficulties. Possibly it’s because of the trainee’s brooding in asserting the gending that fits in with the player’s ability,” she asserted.
According to Kembar Aryani, SGW is able to breed togetherness and appreciation among the instrumentalists and Banjar Dangin Peken society. “Moreover, we really enjoy it because we often carry out ngayah at the temple as the manifestation in raising our harmonic relationship with God,” said the PKK Leader who has 281 members. (BTN/015)