Ngaben in Bali

Ngaben is the burning corpse ceremony in Bali. Actually for hindunese, hindu is majority religion in one hundred temple island. In Panca Yadya, this ceremony is in order to Pitra Yadnya, it mean this ceremony give honour for ancestor. The essential of this ceremony is make the ancestor soul come back to heaven. The Pedanda say every human have Bayu, Sabda, Idep it will come back to Bahma, Wisnu, Siwa.

Every family actally do this ceremony if one of them died. It is one form honor from son to they parents. If some one will make this ceremony they should have money 15 until 20 million rupiah. This Ceremony usually become big party. There is no cry, because Bali they believe they can’t cry if one of they family died. Because it make soul of the death people can’t go from the earth.

The Pedanda always search good day for Ngaben ceremony. Many day before ritual Ngaben, many people help the family to make luxurious “Bade and Lembu” from wood, color paper and another thing. “Bade and Lembu” it is the place for corpse in Ngaben.

Before Ngaben begin, the family and many people always gether to make the preparation for Ngaben Ceremony. The fist the family ands society wash the corpse , Balinese say it “Nyiramin”. The elder person in the society lead the “Nyiramin” ritual. After that give the corpse Balinese dress like he still live. Before the big ritual begun. Every family give the last honour and they pray for him. They want gthe soul of the corpse get nice place in heaven. After every thing ready, so the corpse put into “ Bade”. After that every one bring him to the ceremony place, they walk with “gamelan”, “Kidung suci”, dan every family walk together with it. White cloth stay In front of “Bade” , it have mean the key of the new way to heaven. Every branching off way the “Bade” will rotate 3 times. At the Ngaben place, the Ngaben Ceremony begin with put the corps into “Lembu”, if it fixed. The ceremony begin. The Ida Pedanda lead the ceremony with pray, and the last burn the “Lembu” until become dust. This dust will throw way in the holy river.

After this ceremony, the family can pray for they ancestor in the temple. It make Balinese strong. Because they always remember and honour with they ancestor. Beside that they believe if the ancestor soul will be reincarnation. It has mean a grandchild is the reincarnation of they parents.