Witnessing The Teeth Filling Ceremony In The Middle Of Balinese Communities
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- Gianyar
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Witnessing The Teeth Filling Ceremony In The Middle Of Balinese Communities.
The tradition of teeth filling may still sound unusual to you. But this is an important ritual that must be implemented by the Hindu-Balinese community. This ceremony is one of the many unique cultures that exist on the Island of the Gods. The implementation has been carried out from generation to generation.
Teeth Brushing Ceremony
According to local belief, the ritual of teeth filling is included in the Manusa Yadnya Ceremony. Namely holy offerings before fellow human beings with the aim of physical and spiritual cleansing. Manusa Yadnya sacred rituals carried out in the life cycle since in the womb, after birth into the world, adulthood, until death.
Based on customary rules, a teeth filling ceremony is carried out when someone is growing up. Both men and women may only have a teeth filling ceremony after they show some physical changes: men’s voice becomes heavier, and when women start their first period of menstruation. In Balinese, the teeth filling ceremony has the terms mepandes, metatah, or mesangih. Although it has many names, this ceremony has the meaning of discovering the true nature of human beings who is free from the shackles of darkness and evil influences that exist within human beings themselves.
In the teeth filling ceremony, there are six front teeth that will be cut. Namely the two upper canine teeth, two lower canine teeth, and two upper incisors. The Hindu-Balinese community believes that the cutting of these six teeth is a symbol of the destruction of Sad Ripu or the enemy in humans in the form of lust, greed, cruelty, intoxication or insanity, arrogant, spiteful and jealous.
When carrying out the teeth filling ceremony, participants will perform a procession in the form of prayer to Bhatara Surya and to Bhatara Sang Hyang Semara Ratih, giving offerings to the ancestors, and finally metatah or sharpening the six teeth previously mentioned. After that, participants are asked to step on offerings as a sign that the event has finished.
After the main event, the procession will be closed with mabyakala procession, praying to Bhatara Surya, ancestors, and Bhatara Samudaya, asking for blessings from the Pedanda, returning to the meten / gedong where the ngekeb is, and praying at Kahyangan Tiga Temple, Kawitan Temple, and other temples which became a place of worship.
Usually, the ceremony of cutting teeth is performed at home. But now, there are several regions in Bali that hold mass teeth filling ceremonies to save more money. Because this tradition requires a quite big cost. Adequate financial is needed to prepare the teeth filling ceremony.
The completion of the teeth filling ceremony signifies that a person is considered an adult and is ready for marriage. A teeth filling ceremony is usually held for several days, from preparation to the ceremony, and the implementation of the core ritual. Therefore, if you want to see this procession, you can come to a local residents and ask for permission to attend the teeth filling ceremony.
Besides the teeth filling ceremony, there are several other traditional Balinese ceremonies that you can witness, such as the Melasti Ceremony, the Saraswati Ceremony, Omed-omedan, and Mekare-kare. Always remember speak only good words and keep your best behaviour if you’d like to attend these ceremonies.
