Balinese Life
Beauty and the Beach

Entering the month of March means the annual celebration of Nyepi or silence day is coming. This festivity season falls, as a general rule, in March or first half of April. Hindu devotees in Bali are busy performing melasti (purificatory rite) procession to the sea or other bodies of water such as rivers and lakes. Melasti means to purify the ritual paraphernalia before the main procession like temple festival or Nyepi day celebration begins.

Aline of hundreds or even thousands of devotees get involved in this happening. No matter how hot or cold the day is, they keep on walking enthusiastically to reach the beach. Some men may bring a sedan chair for the holy effigy, ritual white and yellow umbrellas and long pennants, while the women bring the offerings solemnly. And, no less important is the allegretto strings of baleganjur gamelan ensemble played by village troupes that accompanies the procession vice versa. This encourages all devotees to complete the passage at their ease. That’s why devotees overwhelm prominent beaches like Sanur, Kuta, Nusa Dua and others across Bali at that time.
Meanwhile, on particular occasions, the Balinese also culminate the Ngaben or cremation ceremony on the beach that is called ngerorasin. This is associated with the purification of other ritual observance for the ancestral souls before they are enshrined onto the merajan or the ultimate destination, namely ancestral shrine at their respective family temples. In addition, personal exorcism rites is usually carried out on the beach as well. Last but not least is the Banyupinaruh festivity that is celebrated on the day after Saraswati (celebration dedicated to Goddess Saraswati as the Lord of Knowledge). Devotees throng the beach early in the morning for self-purification by holy bathing. It is because the sea is considered as the proper place to wipe out any spiritual impurities. As a result, for such purposes, beaches as public places are well maintained at all times by the customary village nearby.
Meanwhile, in the tourism sector, beautiful spreading white sandy beaches along Kuta, Jimbaran, Nusa Dua, Benoa and Sanur have become famous playgrounds, excluding ritual destination, for years and attract numerous local, domestic and foreign guests. Surfing, body-massaging, snorkelling, sunbathing or just relaxing for releasing stress and tension are only some popular activities done by them.
The Charm of Jimbaran Beach is best relished while having dinner on the beachside seafood cafes. Orange sunset, sparkling lights from the southern hills and airport in the north adore the romance of the night. It does not only indulge your taste but also your sight. In the meantime, the never-sleeping Kuta Beach that has become the ‘pioneer beach’ in Bali keeps visitors spending a longer and longer time until dark. Every year, Kuta Karnival, yearend celebration and others are held here to pamper visitors, and at the same time preserve local culture. In short, all is combined, the beauty of the beach and richness of the local indigenous culture.
In the long run, the remaining black sandy beaches beyond those places are also seen by visitors as alternatives. One by one, stunning and tranquil villas with tropical landscape is opened. From Petitenget stretching to West Bali and from Padanggalak Beach to Eastern Bali have exquisite sea or ocean views, allurement of swaying palm leaves and pristine location add to their value. These do not only make them premier comfortable places to stay in but also a great retreat or escape and calm the mind. (BTN/029)