The sacred Mepepada ceremony was held on Tuesday (3/24/09) at Besakih Temple in accordance with the grand Panca Balikrama ceremony. The Mepepada ceremony was held to purify the animals and plants that were sacrificed at Panca Balikrama ceremony. The animals that participated in the Mepepada ceremony were buffalo, cow, goat, deer, dog, pig, chicken, swan, duck and turtle. All these animals and plant represented “sarwa prani hitangkara” or all earth contents.

Before these animals were led to perform the mepepada ritual, they are sprinkled with holy water, decorated with black, red or yellow cloth, and an ornament made from holy kusa grass (karawiata) were tied around their heads. Then the plants and animals were led to encircle the temple precinct counterclockwise three times as a symbol of purification. The procession was led by the banners of Dewata Nawa Sanga (gods which reside in nine directions) and accompanied by Balaganjur orchestra.

Finally after the circling ritual was completed, the animals were led to Penataran Agung temple to be symbolically killed by the sacred sword of Ratu Bagus Pande (deity of blacksmith). This symbolic killing conclude the mepepada ritual which took more than 4 hours (from 9 AM to 1 PM).

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