The sixth month (kaenem) of Balinese Caka Calendar starts today (11/28/08). For Balinese especially the older generation this moth is associated with plague or pestilence, which is called “grubug” by Balinese. When this month comes, my grandmother usually tells me stories on how, in the bygone days, every kaenem (the sixth month) her fowls and pigs died with no apparent reason and how this event repeated in the followings years. But nowadays she said, she rarely can see ‘grubug’ attacking the fowls and pigs. To this statement I just said, “day by day, fewer and fewer Balinese keep fowls or pigs especially in urban areas, so you will not likely see a ‘grubug’ strikes the fowls and the pigs.

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People who know little about Bali, at the least know that there are dances in which men in a state of trance attack themselves with their krisses, that there are other dances in which little girls who are put into a state of trance by incense smoke and singing, perform feats of acrobatics of which they would not be capable in a normal condition. Of all the forms of Balinese dance, the dances that involve trance or possession in them are the most fascinating to the visitors.

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The Royal line of Buleleng, Singaraja is descended from the Son of Dalem Sagening, the King of Gelgel, Klungkung named Ki Gusti Anglurah Pandji Sakti. Pandji Sakti, it is recorded left from Klungkung to establish a new Kingdom in Den Bukit, Buleleng, North Bali. On reaching the peak of the Mountain range, he was thirsty and so he plunged his magic kris into the ground and front that spot flowed water. Water still flows from this spring today and makes life possible at the top of the mountain range. A temple was built at this place and is called Toya or Tirta Ketipat. You will pass it by on the way to Denpasar from Singaraja via Bedugul / Lake Beratan.

Ki Gusti Anglurah Panji Sakti eventually settled in the village of Panji around 5 kms South West of Singaraja. When he had finally succeeded in uniting Den Bukit (now Buleleng, North Bali) he became the King of Den Bukit. Then he built two other Puri (palaces) namely Sukasada, 2 kms South of Singaraja. Singaraja as the third Puri built on March 30th, 1604 became the beginning of the Kingdom of Buleleng and Singaraja, the capital town of the regency of Buleleng. Singaraja was chosen by the Dutch as the easiest place to make their first incursion onto Balinese Soil. This they did by brute force in the mid 19th century (1846-1849). The palace / puri was destroyed and the family mostly deposed or annihilated at the final stand in the town of Jagaraga around 15 kms east of Singaraja.

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A permanent exhibition room in Agung Rai Museum of Art (ARMA) is immortalized as Anak Agung Made Djelantik Room to honour Anak Agung Made Djelantik’s dedication for art and culture of Bali especially Balinese painting. This permanent exhibition room houses the watercolor paintings of Anak Agung Made Djelantik, the founder of Bali Walter Spies Foundation and the Honorary President of German Walter Spies Society. A strong bond between Walter Spies and Anak Agung Made Djelantik is showed by the position of this new room that is next to Walter Spies Room.

Left to Right: Bulan Trisna Djelantik (the doughter), Anak Agung Rai (owner of ARMA), Horst Jordt (President Walter Spies Society Germany), and the picture of Anak Agung Made Djelantik

The watercolor paintings of Anak Agung Made Djelantik which are exhibited here depict the fateful events in Anak Agung Made Djelantik life, from early in the childhood up to retirement years. The theme of the paintings range from the black magic to culture shock, from temple to boat race, in short the themes of the paintings cover all aspects of Anak Agung Made Djelantik life.

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The month of pestilence or the sixth month of Caka lunar calendar, popularly known as kaenem, is approaching; Kaenem usually starts late in November or early in December and last for 30 days. Balinese believe that during this month the king of demons, Ratu Gede Nusa and his general I Macaling along with thousands of demons and evil spirits set off from their abode in the island of Nusa Penida and storm the island of Bali with various pestilences and calamities. Balinese believe that this supernatural invasion is responsible for the deaths of humans or animals which are occurred during this inauspicious month.

Balinese use many ways to protect themselves from the pestilences and calamities which are spread by Ratu Gede Nusa and his army. The efforts range from erecting a bamboo gate decorated with thorny pandanus leaves on the entrance way of the village to wearing a bracelet made of tri datu thread (a set of threads consists of white, red and black thread), from presenting simple offering to taking protecting deities on a trip around the village to chase away the invading demons and evil spirits.

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