If you’ve been to Bali or are interested in Bali, you’ll know that Bali is a place with a variety of cultures and uniqueness. One of the most unique and sacred cultures in Bali is Ngaben. Ngaben is a cremation ceremony for Hindus in Bali. Ngaben ceremony is a ritual to return ancestral spirits to their original place. Ngaben in Balinese has a subtle connotation which is often called palebon. Palebon comes from the word lebu which means prathiwi or soil. Palebon means to make prathiwi (ash). There are two ways namely by burning (ngaben) and burry into the ground (methanem).
The purpose of the Ngaben ceremony is to accelerate the Ragha Sarira so it can return to its origin, Panca Maha Buthadi, and for Atma to be able to quickly go to the Pitra realm. The philosophical foundation of Ngaben in general is Panca Sradha, namely the five basic frameworks of Hinduism, Brahman, Atman, Karmaphala, Samsara, and Moksha. Meanwhile, in particular, Ngaben is carried out because of the love for the ancestors and the devotion of children to their parents. The Ngaben ceremony is a process of returning Panca Maha Buthadi elements to the Creator. Ngaben is also referred to as pitra yadnya (lontar yama purwana tattwa). Pitra means ancestors or dead people, while yadnya is a sincere sacred offering.
There are five types of Ngaben:
- Ngaben Sawa Wedana
- Ngaben Asti Wedana
- Swasta
- Ngelungah
- Warak Kruron
Due to the pandemic, the previous Ngaben was suspended for more than a year and then replaced by limited cremation in a crematorium to avoid crowds. But with the increasingly controlled situation of the current pandemic now, Bali has new opportunities to grow its tourism sector back. And the Ngaben ceremony is one of the most sought-after destinations by tourists. If you have the opportunity to witness this sacred and unique ceremony, don’t forget to always comply with the health protocols.
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