On June 28th, at 10.00 in the morning Art Center was filled with visitors. Men-women, young-old, and native-foreigners seemed never want to blink their eyes as if they did not want to miss a thing from this show. They were hypnotized. Wherever the show went then those people would follow it as if they were the part of this show.

Bali Art Festival does not just present Balinese handmade goods or Balinese culinary heritage but also performances that begin to be neglected. One of them is Nglawang. This show had been presented twice to re-popularize it to the people, especially to the Balinese children.

Nglawang actually is a Balinese tradition aiming to ward a village from disasters. This tradition is similar to Pangrebongan which is held in Kesiman village (see the article). Nglawang is usually held after Kuningan day in several villages in Bali but it becomes rare ritual to be held in the town nowadays.

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Kertalangu Cultural Village, as its slogan says is a new concept destination in Bali. Situated in the middle of the rice field in Sanur area Kertalangu gives a rural nuances yet easily reached from the city center. Strategically located on the By Pass in in Kesiman Kertalangu, Padang Galak, East Denpasar, Kertalangu Cultural village is only 15 minutes away from the airport and 10 minutes drive from the city center.

Kertalangu Cultural Village covers 80 hectares area, houses 16 types of handicraft industries , recreational and tourist facilities, organic farming facilities and rows of rice fields which also serves as jogging track. Upon arrival in this cultural village, gallery and shop selling ornamental plants and earthenware on the side of the thoroughfare greet visitors. There are also an open-air restaurant with a stage and a sound system, workshop center, art market, and other tourism facilities in the main area.

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Pangerebongan is a traditional ceremony that aims to protect people especially for them who live around of Kesiman village from disease, disasters, and others bad things. Most people of Kesiman pu much faith in the efficacy of Pegerebongan ceremony that is the reason why Pangerebongan is held. Other people do not know this reason. Surprisingly, they, who do not know the reason, keep this ritual alive by come and join to this ritual.

Rangda

Some people who know the myth clearly enough said that the story began from a long time ago. Once upon a time “Ratu Gede Mecaling” with his followers which are formed as Rangda, Barong, and others form came to Kesiman Village. Ratu Gede who is described as big, with dark skin and canines commanded his followers to spread pestilence to this village.

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Pangerebongan is a ritual that is full of mystery and carries a spiritual power that is sometimes beyond the rational thought patterns of ordinary people. The ceremony of Pangerebongan is held every 210 days in accordance to the ancient Balinese lunar calendar, exactly eight days after the Kuningan religious holiday.

The participants of this ceremony are the members of the local community whose homes surround the royal residence of Puri Kesiman in east Denpasar and they walk in procession to the Petilan Temple. Old heirlooms, sacred artifacts and the barong and rangda masks, which are symbols of black and white magic, are taken out of safekeeping and carried in the procession.

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