Melasti – Bali’s most holy ceremony
As a photographer, I am deeply fascinated by Balinese culture, and I always look forward to the Melasti proceedings which are taking place in the days leading up to the Balinese New Year.
During Melasti, you can witness Balinese culture at its finest (and most colorful). Village by village the Balinese people gather and flock to the beaches and carry out a religious festival of great importance.
During Melasti the whole island of gods, as Bali is often referred to, turns into a festive mood.
The Balinese people carry out a cleansing and purification ceremony known as Melasti.
But before we delve deeper into what Melasti is let me share some photographs of Melasti ceremonies with you first.
Getting ready for Melasti ceremony
Beautiful prayer flags called Umbul Umbul
that is why I call this the colors of Bali
Carrying effigies to the water
Melasti is always close to the water
What is Melasti ?
According to Wikipedia: “Melasti was meant as the ritual to cleanse the world from all the filth of sin and bad karma, through the symbolic act of acquiring the Tirta Amerta, “the water of life.”
Water plays a very prominent role in Balinese believes not only for cleansing & purification but as a source of life.
Sacred objects from the village temple such as swords, Barongs and others are brought to the beach for a ‘washing’ ritual.
All this is done in grandeur and style. And it is this grandeur and style which make the Melasti ceremony so interesting and a feast for the eye and the camera as well.
Balinese prayer flags also known as Umbul-Umbul are erected on the beach making for a very beautiful setting.
Of course, the Balinese all come in their most beautiful, traditional dresses.
Often Melasti proceedings are accompanied by Gamelan music. But nowadays this is also all too often substituted by taped music.
During the actual Melasti ceremony prayers are said towards the ocean to appease the gods.
During those prayers, some Melasti participants can fall into a state of trance. Some devotees perform dance movements or even stab themselves with a traditional Balinese sword.
Devotees will carry the sacred objects which they have brought from their village temple and carry them to the water.
A symbolic dipping into the water of that object signifies the cleansing and purification. Objects not fit for dipping can be sprinkled by a few drops of seawater.
A Balinese woman preparing for Melasti at her village temple
Holy objects from the temple
Balinese Women carrying religious objects during Melasti proceedings
It is exactly these colors that make it such a feast for the eye
More sacred objects for Melasti
Balinese priests during prayer
Objects arranged for Melasti blessings
Melasti is a Must for every Balinese !
Balinese people will start their day very early in the morning getting ready for their big day. The whole village will gather and then make the journey to a designated beach.
Most families will come in their cars and on motorbikes. Also, trucks are filled up with people. On many streets and intersections, this can cause big traffic jams.
For every Balinese Hindu, it is a must to participate in Melasti. In some villages people who can’t make it even have to pay a fine to the village council for not attending.
Though most Balinese are looking forward to this big ceremony. Because Balinese people cherish the togetherness that this joyous occasion provides. Therefore, the Melasti celebration is not merely a religious duty but also plays a vital role in Balinese society.
On the sidelines street vendors also use the Melasti processions to make a buck selling food, drinks and even toys for children.
Melasti ceremonies start already during sunrise and go on until sunset and even beyond sunset. And it is happening all over Bali on many, many beaches.
Devotees carrying objects to the sea for cleansing during Melasti
Close up of sacred objects prepared for Melasti ceremony
A man stabbing himself with sword during trance
Again those colors…
Balinese Hindu devotees during Melasti celebrations
Saying prayers to the ocean during Melasti
Balinese priests singing chants during Melasti
Melasti ceremonies are not only carried out in the days leading up to the Balinese New Year, but also during other important religious occasions which require cleansing and purification. A village temple’s anniversary is also an occasion for a Melasti ceremony.
An example of such a Melasti ceremony, which I have been privileged to be part of can be seen here (coming soon).
Melasti can be anywhere close to a source of water, such as a lake or a river bench.
FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS
Firstly, it is generally allowed and ok to witness Melasti proceedings. And to take photographs there.
There are certain guidelines though that you should follow:
You should be dressed in Balinese attire.
Keep your distance!!
I highly recommend that you are accompanied by a Balinese advising you on what is OK and what is not. For instance, you should never be too close or if you are close you should never be upstanding or in a higher position than another person. Especially if that person is a priest or someone engaged in prayer.
And there are many other small guidelines you may not be aware of.
Remember this is religious pursuit !
Equipment-wise, a tele or even an extra long tele lens are ideal. Some of the photos you see here I have taken with a 150 – 500 mm lens.
Go early. The first villages already arrive during sunrise. And it is cooler in the morning and the light is at its best.
Be prepared for longer waiting periods / traffic jams. Even motorbikes can get stuck in traffic.
During my last Melasti experience, I spend about 30 minutes in traffic for a stretch of road that I usually need only 3-5minutes for.Bring or buy a lot to drink because it can get very hot if you are staying during day time hours.
Some sun protection can also be a very good idea.
DO NOT GO BY CAR !! The streets leading to the beaches where Melasti is carried out can become completely congested. Sometimes even unpassable. Often lengthy detours are set up to cope with the traffic that is caused by the Melasti processions.
I hope you have enjoyed exploring Melasti with me.
Truly’ DOMINIK
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This unique blog is really interesting. I have found a bunch of helpful advices out of it. I ad love to come back again and again. Thanks a bunch!
Mark
Thank you Mark !
Absolutely stunning colours in these photos. It looks like you were a total fly on the wall when you captured these. The “action” shot of the men taking the effigies to the water is definitely one of my favourites. Love to know how you captured that one.
Thank you Jaina. Basically, on occasions like this it is about using a long / tele lens. On this one I had a 150-500 with me.
The cover photo is strikingly beautiful. I love the way you capture emotion, motion, and moment very much. For me, Bali is an awesome place – rich in culture, gorgeous in nature. Hope to return to it soon.
Best regards,
Johny
Hi Dominik, this is the best photographic records I’ve ever seen on Balinese ceremony! Congrats 🙂 Would you mind if I use one or another picture on my Instagram (with credits to you) ? This is my IG @sama2shop. Best wishes!
Thanks Gabriela,
My manager Mairah will be in touch with you abt using pix on your Instagram.
Cheers – DOMINIK
Hi Dominik, I’ve been in Bali a few months and tried to catch this event but i missed it. Your photos are the best with all details and even emotion! I would like to use your photos in my personal blog with credits to you. Could you please ask your Manager Mairah to contact me? My email is trinh@cheekychop.com. Thank you very much!
Fantastic shots!
Sources say Melasti occurs “several days before” Nyepi Day of Silence. I’d like to visit Bali for this year’s (2017) festival but I can’t find which specific day it will occur on. I believe March 28 is Nyepi. Can you tell me what exact day in March 2017 Melasti will be celebrated?
Kevin,
Its on 28th and 29th March officially.
I say officially. Let me explain:
Neypi – the day of silence where Bali completely shuts down.. n u will not be allowed to leave your hotel / villa in Bali for 24 hours… that day is on 28th March – so the silence thing starts at midnight of the 28th and ends at midnight 29th. March
Those MELASTI celebrations start 4,5 days before Nyepi. And end 1,2 days before Neypi. So there is NOTHING Melasti on the 27th for sure.
So expect MELASTI celebrations to go on at: 24 / 25 / 26 March. Mostly in the morning and during later afternoon. Proly peaking on 25th.
Good places to observe are in Nusa Dua, Canggu, Cemagi, Seseh, Pererenan
DOMINIK
Dominik, very nice photos and info on Melasti. Well done!
Thank you. Glad you like it.
DOMINIK
Dear Dominik. Thank you for sharing this very beautiful photos and valued information. I am planning to be there after reading your blog. Could you please advise where we should do in the big day to have such a sacred and remarkable moment of Melastic. Also, it is sharply 3 days before Nyepi. Thank you in advance.
What a wonderful storytelling, the article superb…
We would like to have permission to share your article.
Pls under no circumstance share this to your website.
These are really beautiful pictures capturing Balinese ceremony. We would like to use it on one of our company websites. Would you kindly contact us here: admin@ciptada.com thanks
I am very happy to have a comment in Vietnamese here… thank you so much.
DOMINIK