MAKEPUNG: THE AMAZING BUFFALO RACES OF WEST BALI Puri Dajuma, Beach Eco-Resort & Spa, West Bali dajuma tours

MAKEPUNG: THE AMAZING BUFFALO RACES OF WEST BALI

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Sunday, July 28th, particularly appreciated by our guests, was the second championship of Makepung (Buffalo Race) of this season (the first was held on July 14th). Makepung races become a tradition for Jembrana, the regency of West Bali. There are some unique facts behind it: 1) Only selected Buffalos which are strong and healthy can participate. They get special training and care by the owner such as special herbs drinks (Jamu). Buffaloes cannot be used to plow ricefields or other activities, 2) Championship or training cannot be held on full moon or new moon, 3) A special ceremony for the buffaloes is held before the championship, 4) The winner is not determined by the participant who reaches the finish line the fastest but by the distance that was successfully made.
A unique event not to be missed next time you visit us!

HAPPY GALUNGAN & KUNINGAN Puri Dajuma, Beach Eco-Resort & Spa, West Bali

HAPPY GALUNGAN & KUNINGAN

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Galungan celebration will start in a few days, on July 24th. It happens every 210 days when the ancestral spirits visit the Earth until they return 10 days later for Kuningan on August 3rd. In Dajuma, we are used to celebrate this important event. The most obvious signs of the celebration are these majestuous Penjors which decorate all the villages in Bali. Galungan is also the moment to remember that some people are disadvantaged and need help. This is what we do by donating to the elderly, poor widows, disabled people and orphanage of the surrounding villages some commodities such as rice, sugar, oil, coffee powder, tea.
Happy Galungan & Kuningan!

SELAMAT IDUL FITRI! EID MUBARAK! Puri Dajuma, Beach Eco-Resort & Spa, West Bali

SELAMAT IDUL FITRI! EID MUBARAK!

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Like everywhere in the world, Indonesia celebrated last week the end of the Ramadan, called Idul Fitri in this country. After one month of fasting, our muslim staff was happy to celebrate this important event by visiting neighbors and family, exchanging gifts and wishes. A great moment of sharing! On the picture, top right, a car decorated as a mosquee, driven around the village the night before Eid Mubarak (Malam Takbir), top & bottom left: picture of our staff Jasuli and Aziz with their family, bottom right: Dajuma visiting another staff member, Misrin family.

CELEBRATION OF SARASWATI AT DAJUMA ON MAY 11th Puri Dajuma, Beach Eco-Resort & Spa, West Bali

CELEBRATION OF SARASWATI AT DAJUMA ON MAY 11th

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Saraswati Day is held in honor of Saraswati who is the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music, arts, wisdom and learning. The goddess Saraswati is depicted as a beautiful four-armed woman, playing a wina (guitar) and holding up scriptures, often seated on a white lotus. Saraswati Day is held every 210 days (base on Balinese Pawukon Calendar). All Balinese will celebrate this day at home and in the temple, but it will be very special for the children and students. A special ceremony is held in the school temple and all the students come with their offerings and wearing the beautiful Balinese Dress. They pray together with the teacher and, at the end of the ceremony, they get holy water from the priest to be used at home for their books.
Should you like to participate in the next Saraswati celebrations, here are the upcoming dates in Bali: December 7th, 2019 & July 4th, 2020.

"Hari Kartini" Indonesian National Day Puri Dajuma, Beach Eco-Resort & Spa, West Bali

“Hari Kartini” Indonesian National Day

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Every 21st of April, Indonesians commemorate Hari Kartini (Kartini’s Day). A day to celebrate the Indonesian hero of women empowerment – Raden Ajeng Kartini, also called Ibu Kartini (1879-1904). She was a pioneer in the area of education for girls and women’s rights for Indonesians. She wrote letters about her ideas and feelings which were published in a Dutch magazine. The most popular book she wrote titled “Out of Darkness to Light” (Habis gelap terbitlah terang, in Bahasa). Kartini greatly contributed to improve the condition of all Indonesian women. On the picture our feminin staff celebrating the Kartini’s Spirit.

NYEPI, “Art in Rituals” Puri Dajuma, Beach Eco-Resort & Spa, West Bali

NYEPI, “Art in Rituals”

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This week Balinese people are happy and excited to welcome the Balinese New Year Caka 1941, known as NYEPI DAY on March 7, 2019 with various preparations. One of the important and interesting element prepared is Ogoh-Ogoh. It is a demonic statues made of richly painted bamboo, cloth, and tinsel. It symbolizes negative elements or malevolent spirits or even characters from Hindu mythology, which will be burned after paraded around the village to neutralize the negative spirit. The making of ogoh-ogoh is not only part of the rituals in the celebration of Nyepi, but also becomes a chance for Balinese youth to express their creativity in art. Ogoh-Ogoh will be paraded around the village a day before Nyepi Day, we invite our guests to watch the ogoh-ogoh parade in the village. It will be so interesting to see the Balinese culture and feel the spirit of Nyepi Day together with the locals, So don’t miss it!!

LAUNCH OF THE 2019 SEASON OF BUFFALO RACES Puri Dajuma, Beach Eco-Resort & Spa, West Bali buffalo races west bali 2019

LAUNCH OF THE 2019 SEASON OF BUFFALO RACES

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The competition calendar of this picturesque attraction of West Bali has just been published by the authorities of the regency of Jembrana. Called Makepung, the buffalo races take place in the rice fields on a course of about 500 m. Hundreds of pairs of buffaloes are teamed up together with their jockeys who ride the traditional wooden ploughs that are slightly modified for the competition. The Makepung races usually start early mornings at 07:30 with dozens of pairs of buffaloes participating. Another hundred or so take part in the ‘fashion’ parade. The races last for five hours, with the buffaloes divided into three racing divisions. This year they lead up to 3 finals, known as the Governor Cup (14 Jul 2019), the Bupati Cup (22 Sept 2019) and finally the Jembrana Regent’s Cup (17 Nov 2019).
Our guests love participating in these events because it is a rare moment of sharing with the local villagers and farmers. The bath of the buffaloes in the sea after the competition is really something to see. A unique opportunity to take very nice pictures.

"JINENG": A PEARL OF THE BALINESE HERITAGE Puri Dajuma, Beach Eco-Resort & Spa, West Bali

“JINENG”: A PEARL OF THE BALINESE HERITAGE

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The Traditional Storage Jineng is one of the traditional Balinese buildings which is inherited from the elders. In the past Jineng was built as a rice barn/rice storage and other harvests. The part under the storage is usually used for relaxing or enjoying a coffee/tea with family or guest. For Balinese people, behind the uniqueness of Jineng, there is a philosophy of life which is taught us about how we could being productive, live frugally as a way to sustain prosperous life in a sustainable manner. Because of its uniqueness, Jineng still exists till present, even now people build a Jineng as a bedroom, some hotels in Bali use the concept and the shape of Jineng, like what we have in Dajuma, our two bedroom wooden villa (Pondok Segara Villa) has the Jineng shape. For the people who live in rural areas and have Jineng at home, they use Jineng as a ceremonial stuff storage.
“Let’s keep the tradition and culture for our next generation” is our motto at Dajuma!

Dajuma Cultural Experience: Jagatnatha Temples Puri Dajuma, Beach Eco-Resort & Spa, West Bali Jagatnatha Temples Jembrana

Dajuma Cultural Experience: Jagatnatha Temples

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In Bali there are three famous public temples called Jagatnatha Temples respectively located in Denpasar, Buleleng and Jembrana regencies.
In Jembrana regency, it is situated in Negara City, 25 km from Dajuma. Its erection started in 1996 and was completed in 2002. This one has several specific features compared with the others: a very beautiful architecture and, above all, a 40 meters high « Padmasana » (looking like a tower), which makes it the highest among the three temples. In this temple the people worships Sang Hyang Jagatnatha as the king and the protector of the Universe. The most important ceremony is held once a year (second full moon of Balinese calendar), the Hindu people prays in this temple not only during the temple ceremony but also in other holy days. In the Nista Mandala (outside area) of the temple there is an open stage that is usually used for performing Balinese dances, traditional music and other arts. It also has a beautiful garden. Jembrana government is currently developing a 5.4 hectares piece of land, behind the JagatnathaTemple, as a botanical garden which is still under construction and is targeted to be completed by the end of this year. A holy place which definitively deserves to be visited next time you decide to come over!

Indonesian Independence Day & Negara City Anniversary Puri Dajuma, Beach Eco-Resort & Spa, West Bali

Indonesian Independence Day & Negara City Anniversary

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To celebrate the independence day on August 17th, Puri Dajuma is used to decorate the lobby and the main gate with red and white ornaments, the colors of the Indonesia flag. All the people in the villages or in the cities are very happy to celebrate the independence day. For Jembrana’ society, August is not only the Nation month but also a special month with the celebration the Negara City Anniversary. Many activities are held such as Fun Games, Industrial and craft exhibition, Art performances, Kite festival and Cultural Parade. All these activities are running during August. Not to be missed during your stay!