The island of Bali is famous for its preserved customs. So many traditional events that show obedience as a religious community. One of the traditional events that is always preserved is Otonan Bali.
Actually, online, the Otonan Ceremony held by Balinese Hindus can be interpreted as a birthday celebration ceremony. However, the meaning of birthdays in their beliefs is different from birthdays in the understanding of the general public.
The Otonan ceremony in Bali in its implementation is a proof of human gratitude to Ida Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa. The implementation is based on the weton count in Javanese culture. Entering Bali, the word Weton was changed to oton which literally means birth or can also be interpreted as incarnating into the world.
Series of Activities in the Otonan Ceremony in Bali
Otonan itself according to Balinese Hindus is the day of birth whose arrival must be celebrated once every 210 days. This ceremony is inseparable from birth as a form of gratitude and all the blessings given. At the same time, Autonomy also affects a person’s behavior and way of life.
This ceremony should be performed from the time the baby is 210 days old. Then this ceremony is carried out regularly until he dies. There are several stages that need to be considered in the implementation of this important ceremony for Balinese Hindus, namely:
1. The worship performed by the priest to ask for testimony to Hyang Widhi.
2. Stages of worship aimed at Shiva Raditya (Suryawastawa)
3. Stages of offering respect to deceased ancestors
4. The worship performed at the time of hair cutting
5. The worship performed as the centerpiece of the otonan and prayer ceremony 5.
This ceremony can be done in a simple way or as it is. It can be adjusted to the conditions of each family. However, the implementation of the Otonan Ceremony in Bali for the first time, is usually carried out on a large scale. Moreover, with this first ceremony, it is an important effort to welcome new family members.
In addition, please note that the haircut performed in the Otonan Ceremony is only done once in a lifetime. This stage of the event is performed when Otonan is first staged. In addition, there are important things that must be considered. The Otonan ceremony is usually performed festively when it coincides with the full moon.
The meaning of Bali Otonan Traditional Pickle
The implementation of the Otonan Ceremony does look so burdensome, because it must be done by living life. But for Balinese people, the view is different. The Otonan ceremony is an expression of their gratitude for all the gifts they have received throughout life.
The Otonan ceremony teaches Balinese people to always be grateful for all the blessings they get. Therefore, the existence of this ceremony is actually much more important than birthdays in the eyes of Balinese Hindus. So, if travelers come across a ceremony like this in Bali, it is meant to pay tribute.
