Among many kinds of religious pilgrimages practiced by Balinese, meajar-ajar is indisputably the favorite one and has many kinds of interpretation; one village can have different definition of meajar-meajar from another.

In some areas in Bali, meajar-ajar is considered as a part ceremony for ancestors (pitra yadnya). This pilgrimage is held as a part of Nyekah ceremony, a ceremony dedicated to purify and deify the spirit of a deceased after a cremation ceremony, so the spirit can be resided in the household shrine. The meajar-ajar pilgrimage involves all the family members and relatives of the deceased. A special effigy for the soul of the deceased called sekah is carried by the family members during the journey. The first destination is usually the Goa Lawah temple that is located near the beach. Here the effigy is given a special holy water, and a set of offering is presented to the God in that temple.

Then the journey continues to the Pura Dalem Puri that is located near Besakih temple complex. This sacred is considered as a place where the spirit of the deceased person is detained and given punishment and reward based on it deeds in his or her lifetime. Here the family of the deceased request to the God to release the soul of the deceased so it can be brought back home. Offerings are presented to please the God that resides in this temple and to “bail” the spirit out.

In other areas in Bali, meajar-ajar is considered as a part of ceremony for God, especially a grand ceremony which is held in a temple. The meajar-ajar is required as a part of the ceremony in which the sacred effigies are brought to the sea or lake in order to be re-sanctified. In some areas in Bali, meajar-ajar refers to a trip to some rather distant temples to obtain holy water. This pilgrimage may involve several hundred people, all whom pile into buses or trucks rented for this occasion, on expeditions to far off temples as Besakih, Pura Lempuyang Luhur, or Pura Perancak. Lunches are packed, and a picnic atmosphere combines with the religious purposes of the trip.

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