This month, the people of Tenganan celebrated their new year with the sacred Usaba Kasa ceremony – Usaba Kasa is a series ceremony that celebrated the first month of Tenganan year). This year, the final day of Usaba Kasa ceremony was celebrated on 2/12/08 with sacred abuang dance of Tenganan’s boys and girls.

The sacred abuang dance began around 10 AM but the preparation of the ceremony that involved cooking and preparing the stage and musical instruments started around 7 AM. Around 9 AM, Tenganan children arrived in the venue of the ceremony with their finest geringsing cloths and beautiful gold jewelries. Around 10 AM the Tenganan’s girls arrived, their geringsing cloths and gold jewelries surpassed the beauty of their junior cloth and jewelries. After the girls took their place in the venue of the ceremony, the sacred Abuang dance was begun.

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In accordance with Usaba Sambah series of ceremony (a month-long series of ceremonies which is held in the fifth month of Tenganan calendar) that is held in the ancient village of Tenganan, a special ceremony for the youth known as Muran Teruna is held. This ceremony is held once every three years which includes several of activities conduct by the youths of three sub-villages in Tenganan.

The word “muran teruna” consists of the word “muran” which derived from the word “uran” means “participant of activity” and the word “teruna” which means “youth.” In the Muran Teruna ceremony, each sub-village sends its maidens to be chosen by its own bachelors as a partner to participate in the series of the ceremonies which will last until late at night.

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Makare-karean or war by using thorny pandanous leaves is an indigenous war dance of Tenganan Pagringsingan village. Tenganan Pegeringsingan is a traditional Bali Aga (Proto Bali) village is situated at Manggis district, regency of Karangasem approximately 65 km from Denpasar (the International Airport of Bali). It is near Candidasa and can be easily reached by public or private vehicles.

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Symbolic Mekare kare (duel between two young men, who is respective armed with two pieces of thorny pandanous leaves on the right hand and an armour made of plaited rattan on the left), held at South Block (Patemu Kelod), at 04.00 pm. while swinging rituals on the ancient swing attended by maidens and little girls in their finest traditional dress at 06.00 pm and ended with prayer at Pura Banjar.

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