Today, Balinese celebrate a holyday for musical instrument. Musical instruments are sacred items for the Balinese, and a special day, known as Tumpek Krulut is dedicated for all musical instruments, mask, and other tool for art performances that are used in the numerous religious ceremonies in Bali. The Tumpek Krulut takes its name from the name of week of its occasion. It is celebrated every 210 days, in the 17^th week of Balinese Pawukon cycle (a cycle consist of 30 weeks).

On this special day, offerings are given to pay homage to the musical instruments, masks, and dance costumes. The instruments and other paraphernalia are cleaned, decorated with young coconut leaf offerings, given a special set of offering and sprinkled with holy water. The members of the group that use the instruments, costumes and masks, pray together and ask a blessing from the God.

(more…)

In Bali, a sacred mask serves as a protector of a village. Balinese believe that it protects all its followers as long as the deity that resides in the mask is constantly appeased with rituals and devotions. When a temple priest has a vision instructing the worshippers to acquire a sacred mask in which the deity of the temple can reside, the priest and worshippers will summon a consecrated mask maker to create a sacred mask in which the protective deity will reside. Only a few carvers in this island are qualified to carve a sacred mask. Only a member of high caste are allowed to initiate the carving of sacred mask, and difficulty of forming the mask further limits the eligible.

The process of making a sacred mask begins with choosing a propitious day to cut the sacred wood for the material of the mask from a sacred tree. The choice of the tree from which the sacred wood is secured is also extremely important. The sacred trees which are considered fit as sacred mask material are Pule (alstonia scholaris), Waru Taluh, Kepah, and Kepuh Rangdu. Most mask makers prefer Pule (white cheesewood, milky pine, or milkwood) while for the sacred mask Kepuh is considered superior since Banaspati Raja (guardian of the trees) resides in this tree. Both Kepuh and Pule are strong but not thick, which facilitates the carving process, and are light in color, which makes them simple to paint.

(more…)

Sitarasmi Mask Dance

Dancer : Ayu Bulantrisna Djelantik
Choreography : I Wayan Dibia and Bulantrisna
Masks : Ida Bagus Anom
Costume Designer : Harry Darsono
Costume crafter : I Md Redha
Gamelan Composer : Putu Putrawan

Synopsis:
This is newly created solo mask dance for woman, first launched in Bali on May 7th 2006 with performances at DANES ART GALLERY and later at the QUEST FOR GLOBAL HEALING CONFERENCE, UBUD BALI. This mask dance expresses the emotions of Sita in the latest stages of the Ramayana story written by Bagawan Valmiki 1000 yrs BC.

Happiness:
after taken captive by the demon King Rahwana for fifteen years, Sita was freed by her husband King Rama and his army. She prepares herself happily to at last be united again with her beloved.

Grief:
her happiness and longing, was overshadowed with sadness to leave her ladies in waiting, who have protected and accompanied her during captivity.

Pain and Despair:
when they united, King Rama and his people could not believe that his wife was faithful and rejects her. She felt the deepest pain and anger and turns away.

Healing and Strength:
Although she proofed her purity by remaining unscathed by the fire she jumped in, she rises up from the ashes, finds her healing and inner calmness and decided to leave Rama…

(more…)