Tag Archive for: culture

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.

PLANTING A THOUSAND TREES

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Last Friday, our guests (Anna and Robert from the Netherlands) had a great experience with the villagers surrounding Dajuma. The Police in Jembrana Regency together with the authorities of Pekutatan sub-district held an event entitled “Planting a Thousand Trees”, to regenerate forests, keep the sustainability of the forests for the next generations and to prevent the disasters (floods, landslides and droughts). It took place in the forest around Pulukan Village. Authorities invited the representatives from all institutions in the whole Pekutatan sub-districts (students, medical personnel, army, villagers from each village in Pekutatan territory) as well as representatives of tourism industry. We invited our guests to join in the event and they were very excited to be involved. After finished the program we walked along the village, Anna and Robert were very happy to see the real life of Balinese village.

“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!

CELEBRATION OF DAJUMA TEMPLE

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On March 31st, took place an important ceremony at Dajuma, called Piodalan / Puja Wali, aimed at honoring our main temple. Every temple in Bali has its own Piodalan day, based on when the temple was inaugurated. Two references are used to determine the day of the Piodalan, which can be either based on Pawukon (Balinese weekly calendar), in this case the ceremony will be held twice a year or based on Sasih (Saka Calendar) for which the ceremony will be held once a year (mostly on full moon day).
Our lovely temple at Dajuma has its Piodalan on the full moon of the tenth month (Purnama Kedasa) every year and this year it was on 31st March 2018. Piodalan is like anniversary for the temple, its purpose being to keep the balance of the 3 relations which is creates the harmony of the life according to the Tri Hita Karana philosophy: harmony between the human and the God, harmony between the human and environment and harmony between humans themselves. On the pictures, our staff beautifully dressed with ceremony clothes, accompanied by our guests immersed in the heart of the Balinese culture.

DISCOVER THE HIDDEN TREASURES OF WEST BALI

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Because we share the same love for West Bali, its unique lanscapes, people and culture we decided to go for a close partnership with the Five Pillars Foundation, a community development organization which offers to our guests thematic journeys covering most cultural, artistic and natural treasures of West Bali. Six programs are proposed to our guests:

  1. The Richness of Nature: An Adventure into Local Sustainable Agriculture, which showcases the experiences of local farmers and how they produce products such as coffee, rice, cacao, mushrooms and coconut oil;
  2. Reconnecting with Nature: Exploring Paradise, which takes on a more recreational orientation and is designed for those who want to be physically active and explore nature;
  3. The Essence of Bali: Nature, Community & Spirit, which helps visitors explore Balinese perspectives on what it means to be a good human being and how to live in this world;
  4. Peoples & Communities of Bali, which provides a unique opportunity for visitors to meet villagers from various walks of life, including artists, local changemakers, craftmen and religious leaders;
  5. The Arts & Culture of West Bali, which showcases local artistic traditions such as ceremonies, music, dance, and knifemaking, and
  6. Bali Safari: The Plants & Animals of West Bali, which provides special emphasis on the lives of wild and domesticated animals and includes meeting rescued reptiles and other wildlife, butterflies, and domesticated goats.

On the picture, a good illustration of programme 5, discovery of the artistic life in West Bali: the picture was taken at one of artist’s house family in Melaya Sub-District. From left to right Rondy, Ganda, Dina (Dajuma), Gusti Biyang (Ulon craftsman), Alice (FPF), Aji Mang De (bamboo instrument craftsman) Alan (FPF) Mang De (Talented Artist) and Ngurah (FPF).
The best way to discover the hidden treasures of West Bali! Enjoy it!
https://www.fivepillarfoundation.com/press-releases

CULTURAL PARADE OF WEST BALI

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Last week, a few kilometers from Dajuma, took place in Negara, the capital city of the Regency of Jembrana, a cultural festival giving the opportunity to all surroundings villages to celebrate Balinese traditions, among them the clothing is particularly important.
The highlight of the event was on September 1st with the Annual Cultural Parade of West Bali involving various artists not only from Jembrana but also from other regencies in Bali, some of them also came from Java.
This year the government invited the tourism associations to involve the tourists to be the part of the parade. This is what happened to our guests so excited to participate in this event and get a chance to wear the traditional Balinese clothes.
On the above picture (left to right) beautifully dressed: Aron, Antje, Laurenz, Sofia, Youssef, Dayu, Andreas and friend of Andreas. You look great guys!

OFFERINGS ON THE BEACH

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All around Bali is the tradition of offerings called “canang” (pronounce “chanang”). Every day, in every place, private, public or professional, Balinese are used to dispose these small square baskets made from cut coconut leaves, filled with flowers accompanied by an assortment of gifts for the Gods and crowned by a single stick of incense. The “canang” has a strong meaning in Balinese beliefs: it is not only a gift of gratitude to the Gods but also a kind of self sacrifice, part-meditation and part-escape from the buzz of everyday life.
On the picture, family Klein from South Africa decided to share with our staff in sunset, a unique moment of meditation on the beach by offering to the Gods the offerings they prepared in the afternoon. Om santi santi santi om…

BEAUTIFUL KITES

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Another beautiful tradition in Bali is the kite celebration. Every year mainly in July and August, Bali sky is covered of these colorful kites driven by kids as well as by adults. The kite in Bali has a strong meaning: it is not only a hobby for Balinese but also a link to the sky and a way to say thank you to the Gods for what they do for the humans. At the moment, in all villages, everybody is preparing his kite for the various competitions which will take place this year from the beginning of July until the end of October (http://www.bali-indonesia.com/magazine/bali-kites-festival.htm).
Dajuma is no exception to the rule: on the beach where the wind is just ideal, village’ kids train themselves in view of the next competition and are also glad to initiate our guests. You should not miss it: it is just unbelievable because some kites are sometimes 10 meters long! Just crazy!

PEKUTATAN DANCING SCHOOL ON DAJUMA STAGE

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From their youngest age, Balinese children are initiated to traditional Balinese dances in every village of the island. Among many other customs of their rich culture, dancing takes a particular importance: because it is not only a demanding and codified physical exercise but also a link to the past and  legends perpetuated by the Ramayana.
Since many years, Dajuma helps the dancing school of the village to maintain this beautiful tradition. Every week, young villagers are used to come on Dajuma stage and perform their art under the vigilant guidance of their professor. Our guests are always fascinated by this spectacle and their children are often invited to accompany them. Always a beautiful moment of sharing!

Happy Galungan Day

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Galungan is a great day for Hindus, that comes every six months. During this period one can see these beautiful decorations called Penjor along the roads, everywhere in Bali. Penjor itself means a manifestation of gratitude of Balinese people to God, above all the grace that is given to them and  a characteristic of the Galungan feast.
Further more, Penjor is also the representation of Dragon named Ananthaboga and Basuki. Its shape is similar with dragon. The base point of bamboo is the body of the dragon while the end of the bamboo is similar to the tail of it. Importantly, Ananthaboga is a symbol of soil, while Basuki is a symbol of safety. It is believed that it can provide healing of illness.
Happy Galungan!