Cremation ceremony is a source of joy for Balinese even after the ceremony is over. For three nights after the cremation ceremony the male member of the banjar (hamlet), clan members and relatives that stay close to the bereaved family spend their night at the house of the deceased. This tradition is called “ngangur” in my village, “magebagan” in others, and others different terms in the rest of Bali.

The purpose of this “ngangur” is to accompany and to give some support for the family of the deceased. The member of the hamlet, the relatives and clan usually do many activities for killing time, since they have to be in a state of joy first before they share the joy to the family of the deceased. Chatting, drinking and of course gambling are the favorite patimes in the “nganggur”; and in my hamlet, gambling is the most favorite one.

In my hamlet, ngangur is the perfect justification for gambling. The games that are played are card games range from domino to Ceki (a kind of mahjong but using cards). The gambling activities may last until down and sometimes attract gamblers from other hamlet though these visiting gamblers do not have to be there even the family of the deceased join the game. These gambling activities also give considerable money to the family of the deceased since each deal; the dealer takes 1000 up to 3000 rupiah from the winning money to be donated to the family of the deceased.

Although there will be a lot of complaints of heavy lost the day after but they will surely bet their money on the gambling table on the second night.

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