Enjoying The Festive Omed-omedan Tradition In Bali
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- Banjar Kaja, Pakraman Sesetan Village
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Enjoying The Festive Omed-omedan Tradition In Bali.
Bali has a million traditions that make this island look more fascinating. Some rituals that are performed by the local community often attract tourists to visit Bali. One of the most festive tradition is called Omed-Omedan. It is held regularly in Denpasar, and mostly played by young people.
Omed-omedan is a tradition for young Balinese girls aged 17-30 years and haven’t been married. Omed-Omedan comes from the Balinese language which means 'tarik menarik' (tug-of-war). This tradition is usually held the day after Nyepi, which is on the day of Ngembak Geni to welcome the Saka New Year. Omed-Omedan tradition is performed to make people in the local area recognize each other and to avoid disaster. Well, until now, it is still routinely held by the residents of Banjar Kaja, Pakraman Sesetan Village, Denpasar City.
Omed-Omedan begins with praying together. Then, players are divided into groups consisting of groups of men and women. Each group has a representative who will do a tug-of-war with the help of several other people. The men’s hands are placed on the arms or hips of women, so they can meet cheek-to-cheek. So that at the end of the game, they will hug each other. Feels romantic, right? But, in practice, there are some rules and they must do it politely. For example, they are not allowed to kiss lips.
Although it looks like a scene in a film, the Omed-Omedan tradition is carried out to strengthen the sense of kinship between residents. Historically, this tradition began in the 1970s. In that year many Denpasar residents migrated and rarely met each other. Then, by carrying out this tradition, they hoped that the relationship with each other would become closer after they return to their hometown.
The tug-of-war tradition of Omed-Omedan has a meaningful goal: to establish a sense of brotherhood with fellow village communities. They hug each other, which also means that as far as they go, the 'hometown' will still feel warm and close. Even though it has a deep meaning, in practice, there are often funny things happen. That’s why, it’s fun to watch the Omed-Omedan tradition in Denpasar! Moreover, there will also be a water-splash event, which makes this tradition feel more festive.
In the day of Omed-Omedan is carried out, there will be a bazaar, also art and music performance. Omed-Omedan starts in the afternoon at 16.00 WITA. If you want to witness this tradition, prepare your departure schedule before Nyepi.
