On Saturday, February 21 2009 Balinese celebrated a holiday that is called Tumpek Wariga or Tumpek Pengatag. Tumpek Wariga is the day when a blessing ceremony is given to the plants, the ceremony held at every plantation and farm throughout the island. Tumpek Wariga is celebrated every 210 days or 6 months of the Balinese calendar.

On this special day, the plants in Bali are given special attention, especially the plants that help human life, such as rice, coconuts, mangoes, durian, bananas, etc, not just by presenting an offering, plants are also decorated with clothes and special decoration made from coconut leaf. Plants are seen as human relatives, as they are also part of God’s family. This is the time for expressing gratitude to plants.

This holiday is also a way of fighting global warming, though it does not give direct effect as in planting plants or reducing the use of fossil fuels, but this holiday at least can remind Balinese that trees and plants can be seen as human relatives, and they are greatly indebted to the plants around them. It is hoped that this holiday will remind Balinese that it is people’s duty to protect plants; and prosperity and comfort will come around whenever the vegetation is protected and conserved.

Popularity: 28% [?]