What ceremonies do Balinese Hindus perform for a baby? Part I

It may surprise you to learn that ceremonies for Balinese babies start even before they are born. Prenatal ceremonies are called ‘Magedong-gedongan’ and serve not only to protect the child from ‘the unseen evils or the supernatural world’, but also to ensure that the baby is born healthy, intelligent and grows up to be a good, honest and respectful human being.
 
The first post-natal ceremony - ‘Upacara Kepus Pungsed/Puser’ - takes place when the baby’s umbilical cord falls off. The cord is put into an egg-shaped container made from coconut leaves, called a tipat taluh. Some parents prepare a special trinket made from silver or gold that is ceremoniously hung around the baby’s neck, serving as a good luck charm and also to protect the baby. Occasionally, this ceremony is termed ‘Upacara Ngelepas Aon’, so-called because in former times parents used to forcibly remove the cord to by using soot (aon) from the embers of the kitchen’s hearth. They would rub this soot mixed with salt onto the cord and then tie it up with cotton, dividing it into three sections. After the cord became soft and thin, the cord would be cut using a turmeric-smeared bamboo knife called a ‘ngaad’. Balinese believe that the dead cord has special healing powers, and the water from a soaked umbilical cord may be administered to a sick child.
 
The second post-natal ceremony is celebrated when he or she is twelve days old. This is called ‘Bajang Colong/Ngerorasin’ and has the aim of cleansing the baby’s soul from any negative influence which could have been passed on via its mother’s uterus (Balinese believe that a child is accompanied in-utero by four unseen siblings which may influence him or her in later life if the baby is not purified). At this time the baby is also given its name. First, a number of candles called linting are lit according to the child’s birth number (urip) based on the Balinese calendar. Then, a piece of paper or palm leaf, inscribed with a name chosen by the parents, is affixed to each candle. The name is chosen from the candle which is the last to go out. This method is rarely employed these days as other factors are taken into consideration when choosing a name.
 
You can learn more about pregnancy and what Balinese do with a baby’s placenta in past editions of Kulture Kid: http://www.baliadvertiser.biz/articles/kulturekids/2005.htm.
 
Copyright@ Kulture Kid 2006
You can read all past articles of Kulture Kid at www.BaliAdvertiser.biz