Past Story on Cakes and Good Fortune

Behind these cakes lies a unique story. In the past time before the 1980s, I watched a unique ‘tradition’ in my home village. Most villagers earned their living by rice farming and catching fish as our village is situated at a coastal territory. It happened on the execution of a wedding ceremony where the bride and bridegroom were from the same village. On the way to pick up the bride, the family of bridegroom will bring some offering including the cakes mentioned above. As the home of the couple was close to one another, so the bridegroom and his escorts went on foot. The bridegroom walked in front of the procession, and then followed by the household mother who is balancing the offering. Meanwhile, men escorts walked in the rear march while carrying two portions of cakes.
Fishermen would never let this moment pass by. Before the group of procession proceeded in front of their home, they would set up several bubus (eel, shrimp or even lobster pot). As soon as the group passed in front of the bubu, some people would have understood what it meant and put some cakes into it. The fishermen believed that it was an omen of good fortune. Expected, that the same fortune would also be obtained on the use of bubu in catching fish. Believe it or not some fishermen said that it worked.
Today, such tradition seems to have disappeared gradually. Most bridegrooms take their girlfriend outside the village or even regency, so the procession is no more undertaken on foot but by car on the one hand. While, on the other hand, the current generation prefers to work in different field like building construction and others, while the elders that originally liked catching fish by bubu has died or are unable to work any longer. Assuredly, there are more unique stories at every nook and cranny of Bali. You can ask your Balinese friend or your tour guide. Ultimately, hoping you to have a nice holiday on this islet and find its other uniqueness! (BTN/Punia)