Add a touch of magic to your East Bali holiday
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| En Route to the Temple |
A visit to Bali anytime of the
year is likely to coincide with one of the island’s year-round calendar of
enthralling temple ceremonies and religious festivals. East Bali in particular,
being home to Bali’s majestic Mount Agung, sacred temples, and ancient
villages, that still live and dance to age-old traditions, offers a chance to
witness some of the most unique ceremonies and rituals.
At its serene coastal setting in
East Bali, Alila Manggis is perfectly placed to offer guests all the blissful
indulgences of a relaxing holiday combined with real insights into Bali life
through countless fascinating events. Here are some highlights of what you can
experience in the coming year.
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| Morning Vista |
February & September 2016 - Galungan & Kuningan
Galungan is one of the most
important religious festivals celebrated by the Balinese, marking the triumph
of good over evil. Following the 210-day Balinese calendar, Galungan will next
occur from 10 - 20 February 2016, and again from 7 - 17 September 2016,
bringing ten days of joyous festivities. Immerse in the celebratory atmosphere
as the Balinese, dressed in their ceremonial best, honour the spirits of their
ancestors, which are believed to return to earth, with prayers and offerings,
and the traditional Barong dance is performed on the streets. On the final day,
Kuningan, special offerings are made to bid farewell to the ancestral spirits.
During Galungan, locals from the
surrounding villages in East Bali also make a pilgrimage to Lempuyang Temple,
known locally as Pura Lempuyang Luhur, one of Bali’s oldest and most highly
regarded temples. The main reason for the pilgrimage is to obtain holy water,
which stems from a yellow bamboo plant that grows in shrubs in the inner
courtyard of the temple. Situated high on the peak of Mount Lempuyang, the
temple is reached via a steep staircase of over 1,700 steps. The effort is
worth it though to take in the picturesque vistas of the lush surroundings that
stretch to Mount Agung, Bali’s highest peak.
9 March 2016 - Nyepi Day
Marking the Balinese New Year,
Nyepi is an experience unlike any other – a day of silence, fasting and
meditation. Festivities begin on the eve of Nyepi Day when ‘ogoh ogoh’, giant
paper and bamboo puppets that symbolise evil spirits, are paraded around the
streets before being burnt to ashes in a cemetery. On Nyepi Day itself, silence
is observed from 6 am until 6 am the next morning. Just imagine... empty roads,
little or no noise, few signs of activity. A precious time for self-reflection
as well as a moment of respite for Mother Earth.
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| Pasar Agung Temple Entrance |
23 March 2016 - Full Moon Ceremony at Besakih Temple
The 10th Full Moon is considered
highly significant amongst Balinese Hindus and is observed with festivals in
major temples islandwide. The mother temple Besakih, located on the slopes of
sacred Mount Agung, holds a special ceremony known as Ida Betara Turun Kabeh.
Devotees invite deities and other important ancestors to descend to the temple
where they receive blessings in what is one of the most elaborate Hindu rituals
you will see in Karangasem regency, just one hour’s drive from Alila Manggis.
June 2016 - Mekare Kare Duel at Tenganan Village
Nearby Tenganan Village is an
ancient village where daily life still follows the Bali Aga (pre- Hindu)
culture and traditions. The village’s annual ‘mekare kare’ is an extraordinary
sight – a theatrical fight between the young men of the village, using prickly
pandanus leaf whips! Each duel is staged to the intense martial sounds of
‘gamelan selonding’ music, and lasts only a few seconds, accompanied by much
merriment and laughter. The attacks are warded off with tightly woven ‘ata’
vine shields.
There are no winners or losers;
the objective is to draw blood as an offering to the gods. After the battles,
the combatants’ wounds are treated with a stinging mixture of alcohol and
turmeric, leaving no scars. Meanwhile, the women of the village don the famous
hand-woven double ikat textiles, known as ‘Geringsing’, that is believed to
possess the power to protect the wearer from sickness and evil.
20 & 21 July 2016 - Rejang Gegitayan at Ngis Village
Ngis is considered one of the old
Bali villages, built hundreds of years ago by 55 people from the Klungkung
kingdom. Every year, the villagers engage in a temple ceremony, a highlight of
which is the Mabuang Dance ritual performed by the village youth and the
descendants of Klungkung kingdom. This dance is a form of respect to the
creator of the universe and a reminder to man to guard the sky and all that
live on earth, maintaining stability and balance.
September 2016 - Usaba Daratan at
Selumbung Village
Bali’s religious ceremonies exude
a magical aura, often incorporating sacred dances during which performers are
in a trance. Displaying the power of the gods through the human body, they
inspire a mixture of awe and fear. Witness the powerful performance of the
Keris dance trance during the Usaba Daratan Ceremony held at Selumbung Village.
15 & 16 October 2016 - Usaba Guling at Gumang Hill
Throngs of people from several
East Bali villages – Bebandem, Jasri, Ngis and Bugbug – ascend to the summit of
Mount Gumang in a ceremonial procession that lasts through the night,
accompanied by an offering of more than a hundred suckling pigs, a keris dance
and Jempana War rituals in which men bearing palanquins containing effigies of
deities stage a ‘battle’. The following morning, the procession descends the
mountain to Bale Agung Temple in Bugbug village for another day of ceremonial
ritual and dance.
14 November 2016 - Pasar Agung Temple Anniversary Ceremony
The magnificent Pura Pasar Agung
temple lies off the beaten track, three quarters of the way up Mount Agung.
This breathtaking temple complex is thought to be the holy meeting place of
Bali’s most ancient deities, the ancestors of the Gods of Besakih, hence the
name Pasar Agung (the supreme market). Probably the most dramatic pilgrimage
site on the island, it overlooks the entire island, surrounded by a forest of
towering ferns and pine trees, with panoramas that stretch as far as the
volcanoes of Lombok. It’s also a starting point for hikes up Mount Agung.
For those who seek to experience
a slice of authentic Bali, plan your escape to Alila Manggis and enjoy a time
of sublime relaxation coupled with unforgettable cultural discovery!
For more information or booking,
please contact the reservations team at +62 363 41011 or email:
manggis@alilahotels.com
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| Down fro the Temple |
About ALILA
Surprisingly Different
The hallmark of Alila is the
combination of innovative design and luxury in unique locations, set apart by
an unprecedented level of private space, personalised hospitality and
destination experiences. Alila means “Surprise” in Sanskrit, which suitably
describes the refreshing character of our properties and the reaction of our
guests when they stay with us. In support of sustainable tourism, Alila hotels
adopt EarthCheck operating standards, integrating the natural, physical and
cultural elements of their environments. To stay at any of Alila's hotels or
resorts is to embark on a learning journey. Whether recreating the flavours of
the local cuisine, enhancing your well-being through ancient healing arts,
tasting the thrill of adventure sports or participating in volun-tourism,
you'll find life at Alila an inspiration. Re-discover the luxury of living at
Alila
www.alilahotels.com
About COMMUNE
Commune Hotels & Resorts is
an international, multi-brand lifestyle hotel management company which manages
and operates Alila Hotels and Resorts, an exclusive luxury brand; Thompson
Hotels, a sophisticated lifestyle brand; Joie de Vivre Hotels, a collection of
independently branded boutique hotels; and tommie, a new micro-lifestyle hotel
brand. The COMMUNE office in Singapore oversees the Asia Pacific development
and hotel management for all four brands, with upcoming developments in
Indonesia, Cambodia, China, Sri Lanka, India, Malaysia and the Philippines.
