Enjoying Bali as a beautiful place can be done in various ways. By visiting Tenganan Pegringsingan Village in Manggis District, Karangasem Regency, you will get an experience like no other. Especially when there’s the Usaba Sambah tradition. This tradition is held every year for a full month. And again, this event has a deep meaning.

Usaba Sambah is a ritual followed by young men and women who have entered adulthood. This tradition is held for a whole month with a series of events. Before holding Usaba Sambah, the Tenganan Pegringsingan community held a Pandan War. In this war, the people are wearing pandanus leaves, then it’s followed by a ritual of riding a swing for an single woman or called a Daha. While the men who are unmarried, which are called Teruna, play a swing based on a special count.

Six times the rotation of the swing, three times to the North and vice versa, also to the South with the same amount. There are 4 swings installed at several points. Every swing there are 8 seats, including at the top, bottom, front, and rear. Each of these sections has 2 seats. The swing is made of special wood you know. That means the facilities used have been passed down for generations. The wood used is cempaka wood that has been purified.

A swing for the Usaba Sambah tradition event was prepared 15 days before it was held. Women who ride on swings must wear Gringsing cloth. The cloth is a symbol of safety. While Gringsing comes from a word that means 'not sick'. After the swing is cleansed and every citizen who follows the procession wears traditional ceremonial clothes, the tradition is ready to be held.

The means to purify the swing has also been determined, namely damar sentir. The process of washing the swing lasts approximately thirty minutes. Lanterns or mastic are put on a swing and then rotated. Purification of the swing is carried out at night. At the end of the event, there was a procession of throwing snacks made by Krama Duluan and Krama Teben.

Symbolic matters surround this procession. A swing with a number of seats illustrates the symbol of life. The swing rotates like the wheel of life. The wheel of life rolls past the positions above and below. Because it goes through a variety of life experiences, the symbol described is reflecting various positions in life. When it’s in above, we must reflect when below, and vice versa.

In addition to a unique procession, special dishes are also made when serving the traditions. You will find foods such as Ketambat, Cacah, Pesan Les, Be Mejakan, Petis and so on.

Not only interesting, the tradition of Usaba Sambah in Tenganan Pegringsingan also contains meaningful symbols. So, let's take a vacation to Bali!