Cultural Heritage
History
Begawan is located in Payangan’s Melinggih Kelod village, with a thousand-year history as a centre of learning and culture. Payangan is derived from the word “parahyangan,” which means “heaven,” referring to a location where entry to the holy realm is attained through meditation and yoga. Melinggih translates as “sitting,” it was here that Resi Markandeya, an ancient sage in Hindu belief, sat cross-legged to focus his thoughts on Mount Agung in northeast Bali. Begawan translates as “bagawan” or “honorable person,” referring to the three Bagawantha who founded the education centre in Begawan.
Objective
Echoing the experiences of the learning centre of long ago, Begawan, in collaboration with the local community and royal leaders, will develop a Cultural Heritage program that gives students and the community new insight into their own cultural heritage, increasing their sense of belonging and pride in their own history.
Kuningan Day is a major religious holiday in Bali that occurs every 210 days in the Balinese calendar. On this day, Balinese Hindus make offerings and prayers to express gratitude to God for His blessings and to ask for continued prosperity and protection. Special ceremonies are held at temples and in homes, and families decorate their houses with intricately woven bamboo decorations called Penjor. The day concludes with a special ceremony called Ngayah, where Balinese Hindus perform community service as a form of spiritual cleansing and to give back to their community.
During the Melasti ceremony in Payangan, people from various “banjar” come together to bring offerings and sacred objects to the nearby temple. The offerings include flowers, fruit, and other items that are considered to symbolise the Hindu religion. The procession is accompanied by traditional music and the Barong. The ceremony culminates with prayers and offerings at the Pura in the village of Melinggih. Overall, the Melasti ceremony is an important event in the Balinese Hindu calendar and is believed to bring blessings and good fortune to the community.
During the Mass Ngaben, the Balinese meticulously prepare for the cremation of their loved ones, which involves large processions, elaborate rituals and a great display of communal unity. Multiple wooden sarcophagi, known as “bade,” carry the deceased, and the ceremony becomes a momentous occasion that brings the entire community together to honour the departed. This collective ceremony serves as a celebration of life, symbolising the belief in reincarnation and guiding the souls of the departed in unison towards the afterlife. Witnessing the Mass Ngaben allows visitors to gain profound insights into the Balinese way of life, their spiritual beliefs and their unwavering respect for ancestors and the divine. It remains a captivating display of cultural heritage, spirituality and communal togetherness, exemplifying Bali’s rich cultural tapestry.
Kuningan Day is a major religious holiday in Bali that occurs every 210 days in the Balinese calendar. On this day, Balinese Hindus make offerings and prayers to express gratitude to God for His blessings and to ask for continued prosperity and protection. Special ceremonies are held at temples and in homes, and families decorate their houses with intricately woven bamboo decorations called Penjor. The day concludes with a special ceremony called Ngayah, where Balinese Hindus perform community service as a form of spiritual cleansing and to give back to their community.
Through Begawan’s cultural heritage program, we aim to document and share local cultural practices to provide insight into Balinese cultural heritage and its history.
The Experiences
Immersion in Balinese Cultural Heritage
Balinese architecture is a major focus of our cultural heritage program, where students and guests can learn about the unique Balinese design of buildings – temples (Pura) and palaces (Puri). You will investigate the environmental and cultural influences on buildings and homes, as well as the philosophical rules that govern how a building is constructed. Balinese arts provide opportunities to learn painting, sculpture, woodcarving, and handicrafts, while Balinese dance provides opportunities to learn and watch dances at temple festivals, private ceremonies, and public performances. Dynamic and expressive, Barong, Legong, Kecak, Janger, and other Balinese dances form an important part of Balinese religious and artistic expression. Balinese life is full of ceremonies, performed from the time of conception to the time of death. You will be invited to learn about temple blessings, make daily Canang Sari offerings, celebrate Piodalan, Nyepi, Galungan, and Kuningan – times when streets, temples, and compounds are full of life. Each Bali Banjar has its own cultural heritage ceremonies, festivals, and rituals. To obtain the schedule, please contact us directly.