Daily photo journal of Bali Arts Festival 2006

Day 10, Monday, 26 June 2006

Time: 10.00
Event: Parwa dance opera by Sanggar Giri Anglangkara, Petang Badung Regency.
Venue: Kalangan Angsoka

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This is an original pre-Hindu Balinese settlement, long a stronghold of native traditions, about halfway between Padangbai and Amlapura (67 km northeast of Denpasar). At the end of an asphalt country road up a narrow valley, Tenganan is far removed from the Javano-Balinese regions of Bali. Like Trunyan on Lake Batur to the northwest, this small village is inhabited by the Bali Aga, aboriginal Balinese who settled the island long before the influx of immigrants from the decaying 16^th- century Majapahit Empire. It might appear to be a stage managed tourist site but is actually a living, breathing village-the home of farmers, artists, and craftspeople.

The lowland people of Tenganan have preserved their culture and way life through the conviction they’re descended from gods. They practice a religion based on tenets dating from the kingdom of Bedulu, established before the Hindus arrived. Tenganan origins can be traced back to the holy text Usana Bali, which states they must tend their consecrated land to honor the royal descendants of their creator, Batara Indra. Though Tenganan is today Hindu, it is also unmistakably Polynesian.

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The two dance terms used for this dance have different meanings in different villages. Both dances have their own particular characteristics. In the traditional village of Asak in Karangasem, however, these two names are combined for a particular dance form the Pendet Rejang. This dance with its own function, role, attributes and costumes, is performed at the time of the Ngusabha Kasa Festival around June/July each year and is centred on the Great Hall in the village of Asak.

The Pendet Rejang dancers wear special costumes. Their head dress has a kind of crown with expensive jewels, and is decorated with gold flowers. No fresh flowers are used, but pure gold flowers called sasak flowers, with some golden cempaka flowers as a border for the headdress.

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Daily photo journal of Bali Arts Festival 2006

Day 08, Saturday, 24 June 2006

Time: 10.00
Event: Joged Bumbung dance by Sanggar Swara Rakyat, Titiapi Pejeng, Gianyar Regency.
Venue: Kalangan Ayodya

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Onggar-onggar is the name of the traditional head-dress which is used for the Rejang Saput Karah Dance from the traditional village of Bungaya in Karangasem. Bungaya is one of the oldest villages in Bali. It has many special ritual ceremonies. Like other traditional villages which are located in Karangasem regency such as Tenganan Pegringsingan, Tenganan Dauh Tukad and Asak, it possesses a sacred and holy dance (Tari Rejang) which has different names and costumes in each village. The dancers are young girls (Daa), drawn from the local community. This sacred dance is performed for certain ceremonies for the worship of the Gods called Dewa Yadnya.

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Letting their hair fall loose is taboo for Balinese women - especially in public and in traditional ceremonies - even though a girl’s hair might be ever so beautiful. Loose hair is only seen when a Balinese woman is having an argument or when she is mourning or as a result of undertaking a particular oath. Or for certain other purposes for example for black magic. Other than this, a Balinese woman’s hair must be done up, or tied back. There are various ways of tying the hair according to the situation and purpose. In everyday life, to avoid her hair coming untied, a Balinese woman will wear a cloth head dress called tengkuluk. In public places such as the market, a towel is often used like this by the women traders. The types and shapes of these head dresses are very varied.

One of them is called lelunakan, a development of the head dress which has a very attractive form. The cloth used is a beautiful light scarf: the ends are arranged neatly and there is a wide opening, so that it protects the head and ties the tightly coiled hair. It appears that the lelunakan originated from the head dress used by the women of Denpasar. In its further development it has tended to be considered the special style of the women of the whole regency of Badung. Now, because of its beauty, it has even been adopted by women throughout Bali.

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