In the evening we all shower (outside with fresh rainwater that has been collected in buckets around the house) and get dressed in traditional Balinese clothes. The first ceremony I attended I was pretty comfortable in the sarong and lacy top, this time a corset was added and although I felt very upright all night it is a bit mummy like wearing a tightly wrapped sarong over an even tighter corset, especially while carrying a baby up mountainous paths.
The local temple, tucked high in the mountains, was brimming with tall offerings of fruit and snacks for the gods. There was a freshly slaughtered pig, oreos and even coca cola among the offerings. The fist hour the temple was mostly filled with mothers and young children chatting and comparing offerings, then boys arrive and sit to play gamelon. Finally the men and young women arrived, in procession with a long white sheet carried over their heads and many colorful sculptures of gods and spirits.
Balinese ceremonies are distinct from other religious ceremonies I've attended in that there is always a loud and lively atmosphere with gamelon played loudly by men and boys, singing and chanting of mantras by priests and many women talking and laughing throughout the event. There is also a lot of dancing. At the full moon ceremony in Nusapenida the dramatic entrance of the men and young women was followed by a sort of dance around the inner courtyard of the temple during which a young women fell into a trance and after lashing out and had to be carried and revived with water. I have heard the trance is an integral part of many Baliense ceremonies but I'm not entirely sure what it signifies. Then there was a traditional dance by the young girls of the community, all where about 9-12 and had amazing leaf hats with burning incense on top. The ceremony concluded with group praying during which you tuck flowers behind both ears and in your hair after each prayer and are splashed with sweet smelling jasmine water.
