Perang Pandan

Perang Pandan is a war ceremony offering ceremony performed in honor of Lord Indra (god of war) and the ancestors (Perang = war). Pandan war called Mekaré-kare. These rituals are held every year in June in the village of Tenganan, which is located at 70 km east of Denpasar Bali approximately 70 minutes using a motor vehicle, enter one of the village's old village in Bali, the so-called Bali Aga village. The village location surrounded by hills, while the form of his own village as a fort worth having only four entrances to the custody system, making it easier to know who is coming and going from the village

Different Beliefs held by Tenganan villagers with Balinese people in general. Tenganan villagers have written rules or "awig awig" hereditary inherited by their ancestors, also did not recognize caste and believed to be the god Indra is the god of all gods. Lord Indra is the god of war. The history of Tenganan is the gift of God Indra on "wong Peneges", the ancestral village of Tenganan. While Balinese Hindus generally make Tri Murti, namely Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva as the supreme god.

It is said that according to the story, in the ancient times and the surrounding area Tenganan ruled by a king named Maya Denawa the unjust and cruel, he even made ​​himself as God and forbid the Balinese religious rituals, heard that the gods in heaven, wrath, and the gods sent Lord Indra to resuscitate or destroy Maya Denawa, Lord Indra by lifting a warlord or leader of the battle. Through fierce battles and casualties were not the least, his final defeat Maya can Denawa

War ceremony Pandan / Mekaré kare was held 2 days and 1 held once a year in sasih Kalima (fifth month of the Balinese calendar) and is part of the ceremony Sasih Worship is the largest religious ceremony in the village of Tenganan.Tempat the ceremony Mekaré-kare is in front meeting hall is in the village yard. Execution time usually begins at 2 pm in which all citizens use custom clothing Tenganan (Pegringsingan woven fabric), for men only use gloves (Kamen), scarves (saput) and headband (udeng) without a shirt, shirtless

This war equipment is tied into the thorny pandan shape of a mace, while the shield is made ​​of rattan. Every man (starting up teens) this village shall participate in the implementation of Pandan War, the stage is about 5 x 5 square meters. With a height of about 1 meter, with no safety rope surrounds.

Before the war started Pandan, preceded by ritual ceremonies to invoke the safety of surrounding villages, then held the ritual drinking of palm wine, palm wine poured in on bamboo banana leaf that serves as glass. Each participant war pour the wine into banana leaves other participants. The wine then collected and disposed laterally into the stage.

Pandan War ceremony will begin, Mangku Widia traditional leaders in the village of Tenganan gestured with his voice, and the two young men get ready. They were face to face with a bundle of pandan leaves in his right hand and a shield made ​​of woven rattan in the left hand. Mediators like the referee standing between two young men.

After the arbitrator raised hands high, two young men attacked each other. They beat back opponents by first embrace. They hugged. Backs hit each opponent with the pandan leaves and menggeretnya. Therefore, this ritual is also called pandan megeret. Participants another war cheered encouragingly. Gamelan drums played with a fast tempo. Two young men hugging each other and beat him down. Pemedek mediator helped separate the two others.

This match did not last long. Less than a minute even. Finish the game directly connected to another game, this is done rotating (approximately 3 hours)

After the ceremony all the scars treated with traditional ingredients made ​​from turmeric is said to be very powerful to heal wounds. No sad eyes even crying at the time because they all do it with sincere and happy. This tradition is part of the ritual worship of the god Indra Tenganan, the god of war who was honored with the ceremonial passing blood pandanus war, without a sense of revenge, or even with a cheerful smile, even if it means hurting the pandanus thorns.

After the war finished Pandan then covered with bersembahyangan at the local temple equipped with present / deliver to Rejang dance. Customs should we hold in high regard as an image of self-esteem will also symbolize a country. Customs do not lose it to let people know where we came from. Bali island of the gods to show various kinds of beauty.