photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
Fred Relaix | profile | all galleries >> TRAVEL GALLERIES >> BALI CREMATION CEREMONY tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

INDIA :: RAJASTHAN | BERLINFOTOGRAFFITIS | SICILY - LIGHTS OF AGRIGENTO TEMPLES | MOROCCO :: SAHARA DESERT | MOROCCO - EAST | MOROCCO :: MARRAKECH & SOUK | ISRAEL :: DEAD SEA | VENEZIA GALLERIES - ITALY | ICELAND | ICELAND : HUSAVIK HARBOUR | ICELANDIC PUFFINS | ICELANDIC HORSES | NAMIBIA : DEAD VLEI FOREST | KYOTO IN THE FALL | BALI | NAMIBIA : NAMIB DESERT | NAMIBIA : TREES | NAMIBIA : ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK | NAMIBIA : 15 ELEPHANTS PLAYING IN A WATER HOLE | A GLIMPSE OF TOKYO | SEARCHING THE LIGHT : A DAY IN JERUSALEM | BALI CREMATION CEREMONY | JAVA | BALI MONKEYS | KAWAH IJEN VOLCANO : SMELLS LIKE SULFUR | NEW YORK WIDE ANGLE | UZBEKISTAN | YEMEN | Gallery : Japan | LE HAVRE ST JOSEPH CHURCH | FRANCE | LONDON | SPAIN | ITALY | LE BRUSC HARBOUR (FRANCE COTE D'AZUR)

BALI CREMATION CEREMONY


Balinese religion is based on respect for and worship of God and ancestors, and is a combination of Hindu elements and indigenous Balinese culture. After death, the body must be dissolved and returned to its original elements. The cremation ritual is a purification rite which frees the roh (soul or spirit) from its temporary earthly house and facilitates its journey to its next existence.

After a death, the whole village helps with preparations for the cremation. The mayat (dead body) is laid out in a special house to be bathed and prepared. Meals are prepared and offered to the deceased as normal. Around the body and entrance to the house are placed damar kuranung (lamps), which notify people of the death and help facilitate the soul's journey and to keep the person's memory alive.

The night before the cremation, holy water is collected from the temple and used in preparation of the body and during the cremation. Any important ceremonies which have been missed during the deceased's lifetime must be carried out prior to cremation. Some Balinese are buried until the cremation can be organised or to wait for an auspicious date. The bones are exhumed a few days before the cremation then prepared in the same way as the whole body.

All the village unites for the cremation, which is a joyous occasion. After cremation, the ashes are placed in the sea - achieving final separation of the soul from the body.

IMG_5530.jpg IMG_5532.jpg IMG_5541.jpg IMG_5533.jpg
IMG_5547.jpg IMG_5537.jpg IMG_5551.jpg IMG_5553.jpg
IMG_5562.jpg IMG_5564.jpg IMG_5567.jpg IMG_5582.jpg
IMG_5590.jpg IMG_5597.jpg IMG_5606.jpg IMG_5619.jpg
IMG_5624.jpg IMG_5634.jpg IMG_5640.jpg IMG_5646.jpg
IMG_5656.jpg IMG_5658.jpg IMG_5669.jpg IMG_5690.jpg
IMG_5703.jpg IMG_5718.jpg IMG_5730.jpg IMG_5751.jpg
IMG_5765.jpg IMG_5770.jpg IMG_5791.jpg IMG_5805.jpg
IMG_5821.jpg IMG_5833.jpg IMG_5841.jpg IMG_5794.jpg