Melasti Across Bali: Thousands Make Their Way to the Ocean

Bali hosts some of the most spectacular days leading up to Nyepi. Balinese people take part in the Melasti ceremonies—dozens of processions across different parts of the island. From 15 March, beaches and sacred springs in Badung began filling with participants, and by 16 March thousands were already heading to the water in Denpasar, Badung and Tabanan. In essence, it is a purification ritual before the Day of Silence—for both people and the world around them.

In Denpasar, one of the most prominent locations was Padanggalak. Even before dawn, processions began streaming in, carrying pratima, barongs, Rangda figures, umbrellas and banners. In the village of Penatih Puri, for example, around 600 people reached the water as early as 04:00, and the ceremony there lasted until about 8 a.m. It was also crowded in the south of the city—on Mertasari, Benoa and Segara Kondang beaches.

In Badung, one of the key routes was the road to Petitenget Beach. Because a one-way system is currently in place in Kerobokan Kelod, the authorities introduced a contraflow arrangement in advance and deployed traffic officers at the busiest junctions. According to the plan, processions from Padang Luwih, Kerobokan and Padang Sambian were to set off from 07:00, reach the beach by 11:00 and finish the ceremony at around 13:00. On site, Melasti looked exactly as people usually remember it: long columns of people dressed in white, sacred objects carried down to the water, prayers and rituals right by the sea. There were also episodes of ritual trance.

In Tabanan, one of the most striking locations was once again Tanah Lot. Ceremonies there had been running on schedule since 14 March, and on 16 March, for example, the village of Beraban brought thousands of participants from 15 banjars to the ocean.

A separate issue this year is rubbish. In Denpasar, each village was required to clean up the area where Melasti took place. In Tambawu, bags were prepared in advance for waste from offerings. With processions involving thousands of people, this is an important detail: a purification ceremony should not leave a dirty shoreline behind.

At the same time, Melasti on the island does not end in a single day. It can be held up to 18 March, but 16 March was the peak of the big wave of processions ahead of Nyepi.

Melasti is a purification ritual by the sea or at water springs, held a few days before Nyepi. In Bali, these processions often draw hundreds or even thousands of participants.

Source: nusabali.com