Saput poleng

All over Bali you will see black and white checkered cloth draped over trees, statues, and worn by people in ceremonies. This special cloth is called saput poleng in the local language and is considered somewhat sacred.

In a literal sense saput means blanket or cloth and poleng means two-colored. But when Balinese say Saput poleng they are not referring to any two-colored cloth because this black and white checkered cloth has a special spiritual meaning and is used only on certain locations and worn only by certain people on certain events.

To understand the philosophical meaning behind Saput Poleng we must first understand a little about Bali Hinduism. Balinese believe that there are 3 spiritual layers (mandalas), the outer layer (jaba mandala), the middle layer (madya mandala), and the inner layer (utama mandala). These 3 layers are also evident in the architectures of Balinese temples (pura), and even homes.

The outermost layer of Balinese spiritualism is an area where the difference between "black and white" is still visible and obvious. Those that can easily differentiate between good and evil, right and wrong, happiness and sorrow are considered to have a spiritual level that is still within the outer layer. They are easily swayed between 2 opposites. That is why this cloth is only used in the outer area of Balinese temples.

The deeper someone's spiritual understanding gets the less obvious is the lines between 'black and white". They can see that sorrow is part of happiness, find enlightenment in past mistakes, understand that nothing is truly bad, and can accept both sorrow and joy as God's gift.

Saput Poleng is draped over statues and buildings located in the outer area. It is also worn by people during ceremonies that takes place in the outer area.

  
Sometimes you can see it draped over a tree on the side of the road. In this case it is used to mark the tree to show that a spirit resides within it. This shows that Bali Hinduism also incorporates animism. The locals who understand what the Saput Poleng signifies would often pay their respect in some ways when they past this tree. Someone driving past it would dim their lights or say a quick prayer, some would rather go around it. Balinese believe that failure to do so could anger the spirit inside the tree and give them bad luck. Unfortunately this is not known to most tourists, so the next time you are in Bali you might want to look out for one of these cloths draped in odd places.

NYEPI DAY

Counting! It’s another four days to go for us celebrating our Balinese New Year!

When I was a child, a Seclusion Day or Day of Silence known as Nyepi was a full of joy national day to me by means the day would be very peaceful. I could sleep as much as I wanted and read a book till dawn, Mom used to prepare a lots of food for the three of us (my elder brother, my younger brother and myself). The food were traditional ones; ketupat soto ayam, kue bolu tape, agar-agar santan gula merah and kacang kapri. I kept my own special package of cashew nut chocolate next to pile of Enid Blyton books, either Secret Seven, Famous Five or Malory Towers series. The day would be shifting to dark very slowly. We even could hear the birds and chicken snoring. Brondy, our Silverish Kintamani dog would also understood  that the day was a very special, he could only sleep in the garage, could not play around on the lane. Dad would have done the fasting, while Mom was keeping us busy not to create any nuisances.

Nyepi or Silence or also known as Seclusion Day, is the Hindu Balinese way to celebrate the Balinese Lunar Calendar (Caka) – a 78 years prior to the Gregorian Calendar- like no other new year celebration in the planet, even the Hindu Indian Sub Continent never do the same like this.  In about 4 days from today, another new year is coming and we will do some series of ceremonial,melasti, pengrupukan, the silence day, and ngembak brata or ngembak geni day after Nyepi day.

Melasti Festival Prior Nyepi

Melasti festival prior Nyepi is the day of spring cleaning the world- I must say – held in every town and village, preparing for the new year to come. This year it happen on Saturday (is it tomorrow?) in South part of Bali and on Sunday in North part of Bali. A symbolic of the island cleaning can be found from each houses should carry the sample of the house’s soil, taken to the village temple which will then is walked to to the river, lake or ocean to have a ritual bathing of all the God’s Precious Symbols, prayers and offerings. If you happen to be in Bali this time, you may face a street are blocked with people flocked walking towards the beach for the ceremony, which has caused traffic jam.

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The Day of Pengrupukan Before Nyepi

A day before Nyepi the Silent Day, each houses, schools and offices conductPengerupukan, which is normally done before sunset. This time, a special auspicious offerings called caru (offerings to give back the mother of nature, and those other creatures including devils/bhuta kala) are prepared to sue all devils (bhuta kala) from our houses and premises. We make noise by hitting bamboo, drums and cans during the ceremony, hoping all the bhuta kala – the devils goes away.

Ogoh-Ogoh Festival on The Day of Pengrupukan

A day before Nyepi, after Pengrupukan ceremony is the time for the first sighting of Ogoh-Ogoh – huge papier-mache of evil monsters. Each village has been preparing this kind of art months prior the festival. Expect to see big rolled eye naked devil and sort of full of blood (yaik!) monsters, are carried through towns and villages in a traditional procession. After dark these monsters are ceremoniously burnt. I will take some snaps of it, and post it later.

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The Nyepi Day

After the chaotic Pengerupukan on the day prior Nyepi, the Seclusion Day itself is nothing to be compared. Starting from 12 onward, the Island is becoming very quite. We are actually advised to do four things during this day, which is called Brata Penyepian; Amati Gni (no fire; no cooking-no light), Amati Karya (no work-no laundry hahaha..lol), Amati Lelungaan (no travelling, stay home!) andAmati Lelanguan (no entertainment; no books, no games, no ipad, no blogging! Even TV cable is also cut this day!). Well, this means; Bali’s street will be empty, airport and harbors are closed. It is a day for introspection and reflection for Balinese families and the most traditional folk will even abstain from talking to each other for the whole day. There are no shops or businesses open at all during Nyepi, the only exception being emergency medical services. Those who will be on the streets are Pecalang, the Police Village who dress in traditional attire.

Well, knowing what I have done during my childhood during Seclusion Day (shame on me!), I did not do those four seclusion completely. I am planning to make better efforts this year,  an introspection is much needed, indeed! (Laugh!) Of course, it is a challenge for families with kids or baby since baby is not familiar with darkness (will see what happen with Bit and Bim!). Emergency kit is advised to well-prepared, at least enough stock of nappies and biscuit and toys to keep them busy. Happy Nyepi Day!

Sumber :

http://www.balimyheart.com/blog/nyepi-the-balinese-seclusion-day/