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Biznet Bali International Triathlon to be Held in Badung

Biznet Bali International Triathlon (BBIT) will be held on June 23, 2013. Aside from becoming the sport and arts activities, this international event will also become a medium for promoting tourism of Bali and Indonesia. It was stated by the Regent of Badung AA Gde Agung, while receiving John M. Daniels, President Director of Bali Discovery Tours and the committee on Friday (Apr 19).

Regent Gde Agung said that all circles of the world knew that BBIT was a spectacular event. It was a promotional activity that could touch directly the European market segment. “The BBIT offering the nuance of the art and culture will become a positive impact on tourism in the Badung County in particular,” he said.

Hence, this number one man in Badung hoped that the committee could properly prepare the implementation. He also suggested to involve the team of Begin with a Smile (ADS) of Bali Police as well as to build an opinion that Bali local police were very welcome and friendly to tourists.

WTO Conference to be Held in Nusa Dua, Bali

Bali will host the international conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Such an event will be attended by 10,000 participants from various countries and held in Nusa Dua, Badung next December 2013. Regent of Badung AA Gde Agung gives serious attention because successful implementation of the international events including the WTO could keep the ideals and image of the nation.

“Badung is ready to host the national, regional and international events,” said Regent Gde Agung when received the audience of the Secretary of the Director General of International Trade Cooperation of Trade Ministry, Syafrudin Yahya, along with a number of staff of the Ministry of Trade related to the WTO Conference, some time ago.

Ida Bathara Turun Kabeh Ritual in Besakih Closed on April 16

PINNACLE of the Ida Bhatara Turun Kabeh ritual or Ngusaba Kedasa in Penataran Agung Temple of Besakih took place last Tuesday (Mar 26). Ten high priests simultaneously officiated over the ritual. Hindu devotees still get a chance to say prayers during the ritual, in which the deities are still abiding in grand congregation for 21 days and their sanctified effigies will be escorted to go back to their respective abode on Tuesday afternoon (Apr 16).

Ngembak Geni at Panji: Village youth holds Goak-goakan attraction

Villagers of Panji, Sukasada subdistrict thronged the local village public square on Wednesday (Mar 13). Children and adults flocked to see the staging of the goak-goakan games to celebrate the Ngembak Geni (the day after Nyepi). Staging of the game composed at the time of the king of Buleleng, Anglurah Panji Sakti, is regularly organized every Ngembak Geni. It is played by youth groups and village children accompanied with bleganjur gamelan music. Meanwhile, location of the staging was in the field deliberately drained with irrigation water flowing from the upstream of local village.

Tradition of the goak-goakan game on last Wednesday was begun around 4:00 p.m. lasted until dusk. A group was composed of 25 players mostly consisting of man. Meanwhile, a woman player was taken from the audience. This woman player was targeted by the players playing the role as goak. The woman player was protected by dozens of other players. The game ended when the goak player could capture the woman. The players had to get wet and even their bodies should be filled with mud. Since the game was slightly hard, many players suffered from abrasions as falling down while running amidst the field.

On "Pengerupukkan" night, Hundreds of ogoh-ogoh jazz up Denpasar

It was recorded that 945 pieces of ogoh-ogoh jazzed up the Pengerupukan in the city of Denpasar on Monday (Mar 11). Especially for the parade in the Catus Pata (central intersection) of Catur Muka Statue, it was displayed 20 nominees of ogoh-ogoh representing each subdistrict. The parade was started one hour earlier than the previous year, namely at 4:00 p.m. Therefore, participants were expected to have arrived early and take position pursuant to their respective subdistrict. The Head of Denpasar Culture Agency, I Made Mudra, said.

According to Mudra, the ogoh-ogoh representing East Denpasar subdistrict was placed in front of Jaya Sabha and that of North Denpasar on Jalan Veteran. Meanwhile, the envoy of South Denpasar subdistrict was placed on Jalan Udayana and that of West Denpasar on Jalan Gajah Mada. This former Head of West Denpasar subdistrict expected after the parade ended, all the participants immediately eliminated the ogoh-ogoh by burning it. “If later on any ogoh-ogoh is found to be abandoned on roadside, it will be transported and eliminated by the officer of the Denpasar Sanitation and Landscaping Agency (DKP) at cemetery nearby,” he said.

Melasti Procession at Ulun Danu Beratan

It’s very beautiful. Hindu community in Bali carrying out melasti procession on the lake looks so fantastic. Dressed in traditional clothing and carrying a variety of ritual paraphernalia, they walk hand in hand and show off happy face. It is just like a non-directed fashion show.

Melasti procession held a few days before Nyepi was also a unique cultural attraction. A long line accompanied with bleganjur gamelan music and mountains and blue waters of the lake as the background looked like a performing art. Naturally, tourists were always scrambling to immortalize such rare procession.

“The Hindus paying a devotional work or ngayah with different types of ritual paraphernalia, their hustles and presence at Ulun Danu Beratan become a very beautiful moment. It is preferred by domestic and foreign tourists,” said Operation Manager of Ulun Danu Beratan tourist object, Wayan Mustika.

Gianyar County Targets Miss World Event

Gianyar County will host the implementation of debriefing for Miss World 2013 in Bali. This county has been referred because it has various interesting places related to tourist objects, customs, arts and culture. It was revealed by the Regent of Gianyar, Agung Bharata, when receiving the visit of Miss World team, Monday (Feb 25). Sang Nyoman Suwisma accompanied by Zyafril Nasution said the arrival of Miss World team was to present the implementation plan of debriefing in Bali. It would be held on September 4-14, 2013 in Bali and Jakarta, involving 130 participants from various countries.

Regent Agung Bharata expressed his appreciation and support considering the activity was a means to introduce Gianyar County to international community. He also left a message that when the Miss World event would be held in Gianyar County it was expected to highlight the indigenous wisdom. “I hope the Miss World event in Gianyar can be mixed with the existing local culture,” he said. (BTN/015)

Legian Mind, Body and Soul Festival

The pristine culture and the arts of Kuta community are introduced through a remarkable event entitled the Legian Mind, Body and Soul Festival. The event intended to enhance the faith awareness and spiritual balance was organized in the Wana Santi Ashram, Legian. The festival taking place for three days (Oct 25-27) was quite interesting because it involved Kuta community as well as foreign tourists.

Aside from showing off various types of the arts, the first festival was filled with the exhibition of organic agricultural products. They started from organic rice, vegetables, sweet potato and other kinds of food. Similarly, it was also exhibited some useful plants, Chinese-like auspicious wrist watch and meditation activities.

Coral Triangle Day Festival A Momentum to Rescue Coral Reefs

The Coral Triangle Day Festival denoting a form of serious protection effort of the world against the marine environment, especially the coastal management and coral reef ecosystems in the area of Coral Triangle. This activity was first organized on Kedonganan Beach, Kuta subdistrict and Samuh Beach in South Kuta subdistrict on Saturday (Jun 9). The activity involved the Ministry of Fishery and Maritime Affairs, Bali Government, Badung Government in this case the Badung Livestock, Fisheries and Maritime Agency, World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF), a number of partner organizations such as Eka Canthi Youth Group of Kedonganan, Turtle Guard Community, Nusa Dua Reef Foundation (NDRF) and diver community.

Tumpek Kandang

Hindus in Bali commemorate a festivity of Tumpek Kandang. The festivity falling every Saniscara (Saturday) Pon Wuku Uye actually has a meaning to develop compassion for all the God’s creatures, especially animals. Through the Tumpek Kandang ritual, people are expected to develop the livestock sector to strengthen the economic foundations. Then, how should devotees interpret the Tumpek Kandang?

In the Sunarigama palm-leaf manuscript is stated that on Saniscara Pon Uye pinaka prakertining sarwa sato. In other words, the day should be made the milestone for preserving all kinds of animals. Celebration of the Tumpek Kandang ritual is not meant to worship the animals. It is a religious festival dedicated to worship Lord Shiva Pasupati, a manifestation of God who has created the animals.