Centennial Puputan Badung
Graced with "Grebeg Aksara"

The Centennial Puputan Badung was celebrated colossal by organizing a ritual activity, called "Grebeg Aksara Prasada", titled Garda Datu Indonesia Mahardika. On Wednesday (20/9), this procession started from Karangasem and ended in Denpasar. Within this attempting event, many historical articles were put into the procession. They consisted of Pustaka Sutasoma, Pustaka Negara Kertagama, Gajah Mada Mask and Singaparaga kris dagger constituting the remains of the Puputan Badung war (20 September 1906).

Thousands of Balinese people welcomed the various ancestral heirlooms that are considered to have given an enlightened path to their life. All heirlooms are coalesced at the Taensiat Village and later on the procession moved together to the official residence of the Bali Governor, Jayasabha. At the catus pata or central crossroad, the zero point of Denpasar, precisely at the Catur Mukha effigy was held the murwadaksina ritual by bringing the kris into procession to round the effigy.
Having arrived at Jayasabha, the handing-over was held of the Keris Singaparaga from the Governor of Bali to the Mayor of Denpasar. The procession of this ancestral manuscripts then moved heading for the Museum of the Bajra Sandhi at the Monument of Balinese People’s Struggle passing through Jalan Udayana—Jalan Sutoyo—Jalan Sudirman and Jalan Raya Puputan Renon.
The procession came to an end at Renon, precisely at the monument describing the fight of Balinese people. Exorcism rites started in the afternoon up to late night. All heirlooms underwent exorcism rites and extended a one-night stay as a symbol of purification for the sacred icons.
In the afternoon, situated at Jalan Veteran in front of the Inna Bali Hotel in Denpasar or at the place where the tragedy happened one hundred years ago, a colossal art show entitled Puputan Badung was held. This performance was supported by students and lecturers of ISI Denpasar. Its spectators consisted of the kings across this archipelago, government officials and the general public. (BTN/015)