What a privilege! We were invited by our Bali friends to attend a Balinese Cremation Ceremony; it is the ritual performed in Bali to send the deceased to the next life. It is one of the most important ceremonies in Balinese culture and probably the most significant in a life of a Hindu Balinese. To witness a cremation is very rare and we felt honoured that our dear friends wanted us to be a part of their loved one’s special day.
There’s a ceremonial tower of multiple levels made from bamboo, wood and paper. The more important the deceased person is the more levels the Waddhu/bade will have. The upper classes and royalty of Balinese society are even grander and more extravagant. Their Waddhu will have nine floors to signify their high status and will take many hours of expert craftsmanship to build. These towers are often brightly coloured with fantastic designs. They are carried during the funeral procession and turned around multiple times to discourage the spirit from lingering before being engulfed in flames.
The atmosphere was festive and exciting, the parade is full on energy, from the drums to people cheering it was intoxicating.
