Omedomedan, 2010.
Every year, in the day after NYEPI (the seclusion day), there is always a gathering of crowd at Banjar Sesetan Kaja, Denpasar. The attraction is the annual traditional ceremony called Omedomedan, means pulling each other. In this ceremony, the participant is all the single adults, 17-30 years old and not yet married, the member of the Banjar Kaja. A non-member of Banjar Kaja is not allowed to join the ceremony. It is believed that if the ceremony didn’t take place then the calamity would occur.
It was in March 2010, when I witness this unique ceremony for the first time. The day was hot and humid, hundreds people filled the street in front of Bale Banjar Sesetan Kaja. Photographers were everywhere in the arena ready to capture moments with their lens. When I said everywhere, I really mean everywhere, from the top of the Bale Banjar’s wall to the big trees around the venue. Some on the street have their camera covered by plastic. Me, I was sitting on the top of the Bale Kulkul’s wall at an edge of the altitude 6metres, a bit risky position but worth it. Bale Kulkul is the highest part of Bale Banjar where wooden bell called Kentongan, the traditional mass alarm, installed.
On the road, in front of the stage, where the honorary guests sat nicely under the canopy, some performances took place. The participants, wearing t-shirt and sarong, were praying in the temple inside the Bale Banjar. Short while after they lined up and went out to the street following the direction of older members of the Banjar who were ready to conduct the ritual.
Omedomedan (Kissing Time)
As the Beleganjur troop started playing the music instruments, the sacred kissing ritual began. The girls’ line and boys’ line facing each other, then the older members lifted up the front liner and taken to meet their match in the midway. The others, they were pushing and pulling the one in front just like chaotic demonstration. When the girl and the boy met, hug and kiss (all of those happened in a very wild way), a huge amount of water poured to them and of course they were also poured with flash by the photographers. Most of the times is the boy chasing the girl and only succeed to smooch the cheek but the brave and lucky boys succeed to kiss the girls on the lips.
Every year, in the day after NYEPI (the seclusion day), there is always a gathering of crowd at Banjar Sesetan Kaja, Denpasar. The attraction is the annual traditional ceremony called Omedomedan, means pulling each other. In this ceremony, the participant is all the single adults, 17-30 years old and not yet married, the member of the Banjar Kaja. A non-member of Banjar Kaja is not allowed to join the ceremony. It is believed that if the ceremony didn’t take place then the calamity would occur.
It was in March 2010, when I witness this unique ceremony for the first time. The day was hot and humid, hundreds people filled the street in front of Bale Banjar Sesetan Kaja. Photographers were everywhere in the arena ready to capture moments with their lens. When I said everywhere, I really mean everywhere, from the top of the Bale Banjar’s wall to the big trees around the venue. Some on the street have their camera covered by plastic. Me, I was sitting on the top of the Bale Kulkul’s wall at an edge of the altitude 6metres, a bit risky position but worth it. Bale Kulkul is the highest part of Bale Banjar where wooden bell called Kentongan, the traditional mass alarm, installed.
On the road, in front of the stage, where the honorary guests sat nicely under the canopy, some performances took place. The participants, wearing t-shirt and sarong, were praying in the temple inside the Bale Banjar. Short while after they lined up and went out to the street following the direction of older members of the Banjar who were ready to conduct the ritual.
Omedomedan (Kissing Time)
As the Beleganjur troop started playing the music instruments, the sacred kissing ritual began. The girls’ line and boys’ line facing each other, then the older members lifted up the front liner and taken to meet their match in the midway. The others, they were pushing and pulling the one in front just like chaotic demonstration. When the girl and the boy met, hug and kiss (all of those happened in a very wild way), a huge amount of water poured to them and of course they were also poured with flash by the photographers. Most of the times is the boy chasing the girl and only succeed to smooch the cheek but the brave and lucky boys succeed to kiss the girls on the lips.
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