Climbing the famous Mount Agung in Bali has once again been temporarily closed. Tours to the area have been suspended due to a religious ceremony at the Pura Pasar Agung Giri Tolangkir temple. The closure will last from October 1 to November 30, 2024.
“We hope that the temporary closure will not cause any problems,” said Wayan Widi Yasa, secretary of the Mount Agung Climbing Guides Communication Forum.
Of course, while guides understand the importance of maintaining religious traditions and celebrations, they are hardly pleased by such closures. Widi Yasa had to cancel a number of guide services that had been previously booked by both Indonesian and foreign tourists. Demand for such climbs is naturally high, as Agung is the tallest peak on the island, standing at 3,142 meters above sea level. Many travelers consider the climb to be an essential part of their trip.
Widi Yasa hopes that in the future, the ceremonial committee will work more closely with guides to provide information to tourists in a timely manner.
Meanwhile, the Prajuru Pengemong (the organizing committee) of the Pura Pasar Agung temple sent a letter to the guides, dated September 30, urging them to suspend climbs to the summit of Mount Agung. This evidently came as a surprise to many, including the guides.
The letter, signed by committee chairman Wayan Sukra and temple elder Gede Umbara, explains that the temple at the foot of Mount Agung is holding a series of important rituals.
According to I Wayan Suara Arsana, the public relations officer of the Pura Pasar Agung temple, this is a major ceremony held only once every ten years. Therefore, the sanctity and tranquility around the temple must be maintained before and during the event.
"This ceremony is held once every ten years. The last one took place in October 2014, so it’s a significant event for the Pura Pasar Agung temple. Along with the temple management, I sincerely hope that this year’s series of events will proceed successfully from start to finish," said Suara.
The temple itself is one of the most important on Bali, located about 22 kilometers from the island's largest sanctuary, Pura Agung Besakih. Both are situated at the foot of the highest mountain on the Island of the Gods.
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