CREMATION Part 1.

Wow, wow and wow again!

What can I say, where do I begin.... we have just been privileged to one of the most wonderful experiences of our lives.

Here's a start...it's going to be a long one but I hope you'll find it worth it. In our district there are three small villages Dukuh Kangin (ours), Tatiapi, and Dukuh Kawan. As "cremation" is such a huge and costly event, the three villages celebrate and help each other together.

Cremation takes up to one month to prepare and the two weeks before everyone in the village takes the time off from their regular job (without pay) and works around the clock to make sure everything is ready. The main entry to our Jalan (street) is blocked off and the men and women sit in the middle of the Jalan, cooking, weaving and decorating for the coming event. They work from 6 am until 9pm everyday.

 

It's full on with girls and their decorations.

     I even tried my hand a making one....with the help of a stapler! Geez I look like a missionary.

Three days before the ceremony a 12 year old girl from Tatiapi died from kidney disease and all 3 villages had to work around the clock to build her a beautiful white cow with all the bangs and whistles ie. offerings clothes, food, money, chickens etc. all to be taken with her to start her next life. A couple of days before she died she asked her mother (Ibu) to buy her 3 pairs of shoes and 3 new school uniforms for her to take to her next life as she will be dying soon....can you believe it!!!

       People queuing up to give gifts.

She had been sick for a long time and as usual her parents did not take her to the Drs until quite recently when her mothers employers (Americans) asked if they could meet her children. Upon seeing her sick daughter they aranged for her to go to hospital where she had dialysis, but it was too late.

You see money is so short over here most Balinese I know would not waste it on medical care, ignorance is bliss and it's much better to give to the Gods than yourself, the Gods are number 1 in this country you better believe it!

Our village had ten people to send off for cremation. As the cremations only occur every 3 years or so, when a person dies they are temporarily buried in the cemetery and remain there until the time of the cremation, when they are dug up.  Lucky for us they were fairly old and had decomposed to a skeleton. 

Our day started at 4.45am when Ketut and Made arrived to pick us up so we could go grave digging yes you heard me grave digging!! Ten years ago I would of freaked out and said no way Jose' but after living here for so long and having spirit all around I was quite looking forward especially when everyone was so happy and excited. The day before the........

........to be continued