Tenget (Between Sacred and Spooky)
“Tenget” is a word that Balinese see with awe, respect and fear. This adjective has no exact equivalent in English, its meaning lies somewhere between sacred and spooky. This adjective usually associated with a place a “tenget” place for Balinese is not altogether sacred or spooky. A tenget place is not given a special offering nor has a special day for its ceremony like sacred place, but Balinese respect the tenget place in a way that is similar to sacred place since this place is the abode of various spiritual being from underworld. This place is not completely spooky since in a daytime or at night, Balinese roam in this place freely as long as they respect the inhabitants of the tenget place.
Places that are considered tenget place in Bali are cemetery, gorge, river, cave, under a big banyan tree, bridge, a certain crossroad, a certain spacious land etc. there are several tenget places in every village in Bali. The spacious land that is considered to be tenget, will not inhabited or cultivated, no Balinese in his right mind will risk his life, living or cultivating the tenget place. It will be neglected and overgrown by weeds and shrubs.
When passing this tenget places Balinese usually ask permission from the spiritual inhabitants of that places by mumbling a phrase “nyelang margi”, which is translated literally into “borrowing the road”. Balinese considered these places belong to the spiritual beings so they borrow the road from the spiritual beings when passing these places. When Balinese drive or ride a vehicle, they usually horn when they pass a tenget places especially a cemetery, a certain crossroad and a bridge. Sounding the horn is used as means of asking permission and warns the spiritual beings in the tenget place that a vehicle will pass that place so the spiritual beings will move away and avoid a collision with the passing vehicle. Animals or certain plant that are found in the tenget place is considered as a “duwe”, translated literally into “belonging”. Balinese believe that these animals and plants are belong to the spiritual inhabitants of the tenget place, a grave misfortune will fall upon them if they disturb or harm these animals and plant.
A night trip to the tenget place is avoided by most of the Balinese except for those who want to meditate or asking a favor to the spiritual beings in this place by giving a certain offering. Their purpose in meditating or giving offering in the tenget place are vary, range from asking wealth or lucky lottery number to upgrading magical power. The favorite tenget places for this purpose are cemetery, river, gorge and cave.
Balinese also believe, like everything else in Bali, a tenget place has double edges effect. If they respect and live in harmony with the spiritual inhabitants of the tenget place, the spiritual beings will bring many fortunes to them but if they disturb the spiritual beings and harm the environment of the tenget place, various misfortunes will fall upon them, a unique way in preserving the environment.
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