The Muat Ngemping Ceremony as a Start of the Growing Paddy

Bali has a long-established agricultural history with a whole range of stunning rice terraces forming part of its historical significance. Apart from providing a livelihood for many Balinese, rice farming is also strongly linked to Bali’s social, cultural and religious ways of life. In the context of rice cultivation in Bali, the Subak is an essential concept. It is a water irrigation system based on the rice cycle, and was introduced in Bali over a thousand years ago. Religious ceremonies are a fundamental aspect of the Subak organisation that must be performed by farmers and members.

Muat Ngemping is One of the Important Ceremonies

The ceremonies are complex because there are different ceremonies required for different times, and they also take place at different temples. One of the ceremonies that the Balinese hold in the rice field is the Muat Ngemping ceremony, when the paddy stalks begin their production of the grain (embud). On October 10, the Muat Ngemping ceremony was held at the Subak Kembang Kuning Temple, Banjar Bayad, attended by hundreds of farmers from four Banjar – Banjar Bayad, Banjar Tibekauh, Banjar Pengaji and Banjar Paneca, and also farmers from Melinggih Kelod Village. 

Begawan’s farmers were actively involved in this ceremony. It lasts for two days with a series of activities for the Muat Ngemping ceremony. First, the farmers washed and released a pig and a duck as a symbol of gratitude for keeping disasters away from the rice fields and irrigation water at the point where the water source irrigates the farmers’ rice fields. The farmers then walked from the Dalem Jemeng Temple to the Subak Temple with the Barong, a mythical Balinese creature. In Balinese beliefs, the Barong is the symbol of health and good fortune, in complete opposition to the witch Rangda.

Dance Performance

At the peak of the Muat Ngemping ceremony, a Topeng Sidakarya dance and a Wayang (puppet) show was performed followed by the Mekiyis ceremony, believed to cleanse the body and soul. The Topeng Sidakarya lets us know that the ceremony has been completed. Through this dance performance, the farmers who hold the Muat Ngemping ceremony are sure that they have completed all requirements. All these activities were recorded for Begawan’s cultural heritage program where we document the local cultural heritage practices to give people insight into Balinese cultural heritage and its history. (Anik Kristina)