What ceremonies do Balinese perform for a baby? Part II
Ceremonies for babies in the first month of birth are small
and don’t involve a priest or a lot of offerings. Forty-two
days after the birth, however, it is time to hold a purification
ritual which is carried out by a lay priest and requires a
larger number of offerings. This is called ‘Tutug Kambuhan’
(commonly known as ‘Bulan Pitung Dina’, meaning
one Balinese month and seven days). The ceremony is not only
for the child but for the parents also. During the forty-two
day period prior to this ceremony, the three are considered
ritually impure and undergo a process of ‘spiritual
quarantine’ during which they should not visit any places
of worship, go into the kitchen or use the well.
The ceremony itself usually takes place in the morning and
is composed of three parts. The first takes place on the ground
- the priest recites a series of mantra whilst ringing a brass
bell, and the butha-kala (spirits of the underworld) are placated
with small piles of offerings. After some time,
the parents with babe in arms are invited to join the priest.
He sprinkles them with holy water and rubs spices, soot and
rice on their palms. The priest then places a piece of cotton
on the baby’s head. Clouds of incense smoke are wafted
and the parents pray.
The proceedings then move up on to the east pavilion in the
house compound (bale dangin), where more grandiose and colourful
offerings are laid out for the Gods. This part is less involved
and takes only a few minutes.
The last episode takes them to the baby’s bedroom. Fruit,
canang sari, incense and cakes cover the bed and are offered
to the spiritual guardians of the child (Bhatara Kumara and
Catur Sanak).
After a morning of festivities, the mum, dad and baby are
now free from their spiritual quarantine and can go about
daily life like any other Balinese family.
Look out for the next edition of Kulture Kid where I tell
you about an elaborate three-month ceremony – a celebration
of the baby’s first touch of the ground!
Copyright@ Kulture Kid 2006
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