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The Balinese believes when a baby is born, it is accompanied by the four spirit guardians called Kanda Pat or Sang Catur Sanak: yeh anom, rah, lamas, and ari-ari. These four guardians are also growing together with the baby even before the baby is born. While the baby is still in the womb, these four spirit guardians have different names: babu sugian, babu lembana, babu abra, and babu kakere. According to Lontar Anggastya Prana, there are three (3) phases of human's birth: Sa

For Balinese, marriage is one of the rite of passage where one moves to the second stage of life (grahasta). Gra / grha means home and...

Metatah ceremony is a ritual that involves the filing of six teeth in the upper jaw. It is believed that the pointed teeth symbolize...

The High Priestess in Bali, circa: 1910; source: Wereldmuseum Amsterdam The Balinese day cycle doesn't start at midnight, but it goes...

This ceremony celebrates puberty when a girl is blossoming into her womanhood. Balinese girls become members of the community youth...

The Saka year starts in the year 78CE. The word "Saka" is associated with a legendary guru: Aji Saka, who came from India to Java and...

Balinese celebrates the victory of Dharma over Adharma during Galungan holy days. It is believed that the ancestors are visiting during thes