Saiban: The Most Important Offering
Tuesday, September 4th, 2007 by Sidarta WijayaThe daily rhythm of Balinese life cannot be separated with the offering especially the simple daily offering, known as banten saiban or jotan. Though saiban is the simplest offering but it is considered the most important offering since it must be presented daily while others kind of offerings are presented once every 15 days, 30 days or 120 days. In Balinese logic, a presentation of an intricate big offering means nothing if the simplest daily offering cannot be presented properly, if you can not presented the simplest offering properly how can you presented the more complex one correctly.
The saiban offering is a symbol of appreciation to the God for the food about to be eaten. No Balinese will eat anything before the presentation of saiban offering is finished since it is believed that eating food without presenting the saiban is eating sin. Food is belong to the God and eating without showing appreciation to the God is considered as an act of thieving food from God.
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