The Rituals and Ceremonies of Nyepi in Bali

 Bali is immersed in superstition, rituals & ceremonies. 

In reality there are ceremonies for just about everything. During a recent visit to Bali, I discovered roads closed for wedding ceremonies, burial ceremonies, blessing of babies and many other reasons. However the most important is the ritual of Nyepi which is celebrated annually. Similar to Easter, the date of Nyepi is decided by the full moon. This year, 2015, it was celebrated on the 21st March and I was fortunate enough to be there at that time. The definite date is dictated by the Hindu Balinese Saka calendar.

The spiritual Balinese Nyepi festival. Nyepi symbolizes the beginning of the Balinese New Year known as Saka, which is celebrated in harmony with the ancient Hindu calendar. It dates back 1937 years and is considered to be one of the most propitious events in the Balinese religious calendar. It is a ritual seriously celebrated by all Balinese who belong to the Hindu belief. Nyepi is a time to reflect on the deeds and happenings of the past year and to purify the evil spirits so they are not carried into the New Year.

The Blessing of the Holy Water

The blessing of the holy water takes place 3-4 days before Nyepi. It is known as the Melasti ritual, and is performed in a temple near the sea (Pura Segara). The holy water is distributed to the local temples to use in their celebrations. During this ceremony sacred objects known as Acra, Pratima and Pralingga which belong to local temples are also blessed

The Blessing of the Nyepi Offerings

On the day before Nyepi religious ceremonies known as the Bhuta yajna Ritual, take place in the temples and on the street. These ceremonies bless the offerings used during the Nyepi celebrations. This ritual builds a balance between God, nature and mankind. The ceremony includes a cock fight to attain the blood necessary for the offerings followed by prayers encompassing flowers and blessings with holy water. The Brahman was dressed in an elaborate golden crown. Gold is a very important feature of Balinese ceremonial jewelry. We were invited to a baby’s 3 month blessing where the child was adorned with gold bangles on both ankles and wrists.

The Gamelan which is a traditional Balinese instrument are played during the ceremony.

The Ogoh-Ogoh Parade

On the eve of Nyepi, the Balinese embrace the ritual procession known as Tawur Kesanga or Ogoh-Ogoh parade. The community and families devote weeks crafting titanic effigies called Ogoh-Ogoh. Every village constructs at least one Ogoh-Ogoh. The Ogoh-Ogoh are large, tall demonic statues of monsters built from bamboo and paper and stand on a wooden platform. They symbolize negative features and evil spirits and often have the form of mythological beings or demons.

These monster creations are paraded through the streets in a noisy procession on the eve of the Nyepi to prevent evil forces from troubling the harmony of Bali. They are held by groups of villagers comprising youth and children from the village. The parade is escorted by young musicians playing the traditional Balinese instruments. The Ogoh-Ogoh are rotated counter clockwise three times at each intersection of the village so as to confuse the evil spirits so that they go away and cease harming human beings.

Balinese instruments include:the Gamelan, bronze and bamboo xylophones; gongs and a number of gong chimes, the trompong (a solo instrument); and a variety of percussion instruments such as cymbals, bells and drums; two sizes of bamboo flutes; the anklung (a bamboo rattle); the rebab (two-stringed spike fiddle).

During the Ogoh-Ogoh parade, children carry flame torches or flares to light bonfires to symbolically burn the evil spirits which are symbolized in the Ogoh-Ogoh. The burning of the Ogoh-Ogoh is known as the Ngrupuk Ritual. The burning of the Ogoh-Ogoh to ashes is a symbol of purification. The key reason of the Ogoh-Ogoh is the purification of the natural environment of any spiritual impurities created by the actions of living creatures especially humans. The Ogoh-Ogoh symbolize Bhuta-Kala, which, according to Hindu teachings, represent eternal energy (Bhuta) and eternal time (Kala).

Nyepi, The Day of the Silence

Nyepi which is known as the day of the silence starts at 6 am on Saturday morning and lasts until 6 am on Sunday morning. Nyepi is a day of self-reflection, fasting and meditation for the Balinese Hindu people. All doings which may restrict that practice are prohibited. Nyepi is a public holiday in Bali and all shops, schools, roads, beaches and even the airport are closed. No one is allowed to leave their homes. They devote the day reflecting on the previous year and plan for the New Year. The only public on the streets are the Pecalang who are the security men who patrol the streets to make sure the prohibitions are being followed by all. The only other exclusions are the emergency vehicles required to take sick people or women giving birth to hospital.

There are many prohibitions and restrictions in place on the Day of the Silence which all Balinese residents both Hindus and Non-Hindus as well as tourists honor. The key restrictions are: no working; no lighting of fires; lights must be kept low; noise must be kept to a minimum; no entertainment, no pleasure; no sex; no travelling, no TV or radio and some Balinese also practice no eating and no talking during Nyepi. The outcome of these prohibitions is that Bali’s streets which are typically busy with vendors and motor bikes are unoccupied and there is no noise from TV’s or radios, or light from street-lights, houses, hotels etc.

Tourists are permitted to move about within the limitations of their hotels, but they are not permitted on the streets or the beaches. At my hotel all the open-air dining areas were closed at 6 pm and the inside restaurants had thick black curtains on them so the light from the restaurant could not shine through. We could not turn on the balcony lights and we were requested to keep noise to a minimum. The hotel passages were lit by candles and this gave a dreamy glow to guide guests to our rooms. TV was not presented on the networks, but the hotel did make movies accessible.

The ideal understanding revealed during this festival was that these ancient rituals are respected by all citizens and visitors in Bali. Non-Hindus including Muslims, Christians, Jews, and those practicing Buddhism all recognize the meaning of this festival and observe the restrictions that the festival invokes. Tourists are welcome to do what they like within the confines of their hotel, but they are not permitted onto the beaches or the streets.

New Year’s Day

The day after Nyepi is celebrated as New Year’s Day by the Balinese Hindus. On this day the Balinese youth practice the ceremony of Omed-omedan also known as the kissing ritual. The day after Nyepi is known as Ngembak Geni. This is a significant family day where families and friends gather together to socialize, ask forgiveness from each other and to carry out religious rituals to welcome in the New Year.

 Bali Sunset

A Statement Engagement Ring Moment

Is  a statement engagement ring about to have a major moment?

 Lady Gaga’s pending marriage to her longtime love Taylor Kenny has rocked the world in more ways than one. Her heart shaped engagement ring is certainly a rock and suggestions I have read say it is worth half a million.  Now this giant  heart-shaped diamond could cause most men to have a heart attack. The very thought that their loves will now what him to follow this celebrity trend and  give them his heart in the shape of a rock would of course be well beyond the average man’s pocket.

But the good news is that the fashion trend an engagement ring is changing. Vogue published an article recently which intimated that vogue thinks that your diamond engagement ring is so uncool and boring.  A diamond solitaire has been the engagement ring standard for decades now, but recently an article in Vogue called that all into question with the declaration that, “diamond rings are just no longer cool.”   So what will take their place?

With Lady Gaga’s enormous ring becoming viral on social media the diamond comparison game has gone into full swing.How many carats? What is it’s Clarity and Quality? Where is it from? Is it a Conflict diamond?  Do you like the cut? Would you wear a heart on your finger? What could it possibly be worth?  All this hype could make an ordinary traditional diamond feel a little passé. Do women sporting a small classic ring now feel embarrassed to wear it and keep in their safe? Women need to love and cherish their engagement ring forever and not be put off by trends and fashion magazines making statements they cannot back up.

A diamond's quality and price are determined by a set of four conditions known as the four C's - cut, clarity, color, and carat.  When choosing your diamond jewellery especially if it is an engagement ring to express your love for each other it is important to balance the four C’s together with your budget. you need to determine whether size or quality is more important to you. I advise that you go for the highest quality cut you can afford as that determines the vast majority of the diamond's brilliance.

While I am sure that a classic round solitaire diamond will never go out of fashion, I can't help but wonder if a statement engagement ring is about to have a major moment. I myself have always loved alternative rings that are more flamboyant and attention attracting. I opted for a large Indian Star Ruby for my engagement ring and over the years it has always be the topic of many conversations and comments. Princess Di (now inherited by Princess Catherine) opted for a large deep blue Sapphire surrounded by diamonds the design of which has since been copied and admired my many.

 I believe that more and more women will opt for alternatives to the traditional look. Colored stones, raw diamonds, and eye-catching cuts will become all the rage. In light of this, I have pored over the engagement ring market to come up with exquisite but trendy rings which  make a statement and will be admired forever.

Some of my favorites  

Ruby 

 Men's Star Ruby

Emerald

 

 Sapphire

 Star Sapphire

 

 Fancy Colored Sapphire

 Spinel 

 

Tsavorite

 Aquamarine

 Tourmaline

 Diamond Cluster

Fancy colored sapphire

 

The Aztec Gods and Goddesses

Gods and Goddesses played a major role in the everyday life of the ancient Aztec culture. 

 The Aztecs worshiped many gods and goddesses, each one of whom ruled one or more human activities or aspects of nature. Notorious for their sacrifices and rituals, the Aztecs had an overpowering belief that the world would end if their gods were not appeased. But their world did end in 1521 at the hands of the Spanish and their different gods. Unable to withstand the Spanish assault and plagued by the foreign diseases Tenochtitlan fell to ruins and Christianity toppled the Aztec gods.

Modern Mexican Folk Art depicting the Gods

 The Aztec civilization worshiped hundreds of gods and goddesses and religion was extremely important in Aztec life. Many of their gods were agricultural, since the culture relied heavily on farming.  As a farming people, the Aztec knew the forces of nature and worshiped them as gods. Most important was their sun god, Huitzilopochtli. But the essentials of nature, heroes, and ancestors were also sacred.  The Aztecs believed that the stability of the natural environment and the destiny of humankind depended on these gods, some of whom were kind and compassionate, but others who were voracious and terrifying.

The Aztecs believed that the power of their gods and goddesses should be worshiped and thanks given to them, in the form of gifts and sacrifices. They built monumental ceremonial centers and practiced many religious rites, many of which involved brutal human sacrifice and the ritual of bearing intense physical pain, which believers inflicted on themselves. 

The Aztecs focus on human sacrifice was established around the world of the Fifth Sun. The previous four suns had been destroyed and legend has it that the gods sacrificed themselves to ensure that the new fifth sun had enough energy to travel across the sky emitting life giving warmth and light. But its continued existence relied on the human sacrifice of mortals. The gods had sacrificed themselves to create the world and their blood had been given to humans. To ensure that all aspects of life continued people needed to sacrifice their own kind to the gods. Animal sacrifices were not enough. Sacrifice was accepted and embraced by most as a part of life. The most honorable means of death was to be sacrificed or to be killed in battle because   a better rebirth was promised to anyone who perished in this way.  Different ceremonies required different numbers of victims and different deaths. Sometimes one, sometimes thousands would be sacrificed.

The importance of the heart as a sacrificial offering is represented in this greenstone carving of a heart. Greenstone was thought to contain the essence of life just as sacrificial hearts provided sustenance for the gods. 

The sacrificial victim was bent backwards over this sacrificial stone to stretch their abdomen and make it easier for the priest to cut out the heart.

The Aztec priests used flint knives, often adorned with faces to cut open sacrificial victims and remove their hearts.

One key feature of Aztec ritual was the impersonation of the gods by priests who would dress up to resemble a specific deity. The impersonators were called "ixiptlatli" and were revered as physical manifestations of the god prior to been sacrificed himself. 

But Aztec life was not only about war death and sacrifice. The people also enjoyed music, poetry and dance.  Life was centered around bustling markets where people would gather to trade, gossip and catch up with other socially. Goods were bartered and haggling was common. Trade was the center of the Aztec economy and anyone cheating or thieving were severely punished.

The gods were even responsible for the establishment of the new Aztec civilization. The Aztecs were landless people until they founded Tenochtitlan (now Mexico City) in 1325.  The Aztecs were comprised of various groups who arrived from the north into the Anahuac Valley around Lake Texcoco. Legend has it that they were guided by their god Huitzilopochtli, meaning "Hummingbird from the South."  On an island in the middle of Lake Texcoco the Aztecs saw an eagle perched on a

prickly pear cactus, holding a rattlesnake in its talons. This fulfilled an ancient prophecy and the Aztecs set about and built their city Tenochtitlan where they saw the vision,  by constructing an artificial island which today is in the center of Mexico City. 

This legendary vision is pictured on the Coats of Arms of Mexico.

 The Aztecs had a very elaborate tribute system where the commoners were expected to offer labor (including public works and military service), crops, craftwork and luxury items to the royals and nobles of the city. The Aztec demands were stifling and this lead to much resentment, especially when children were taken for sacrifice. But the many rebellions were crushed. When the Spaniards arrived they capitalized on this bad blood and used it to their advantage to overcome the Aztecs.

Following are some of the Aztec gods on display at the Australia Museum. The full list of the Aztec gods can be found in Wikipedia 

XIUHTECUHTLI – God of Fire

MICTLANTECUHTLI –God of Death 

XILONEN – Goddess of young corn (replica)

XOCHIPILLI – God of music, flowers and spring

CHALCHIUHTLICUE –Goddess of  Rivers and Lakes

 XICAHUAZTLI – Sunbeam – the symbol of growth and fertility

A Sculptured Gatekeeper who stood atop the stairways of temples allowing only priests and nobles into the upper shrines.

Yet today traces of the Aztec civilization are alive still in Mexico - in the ruins, in the Aztec descendants, in art work, in Mexican handcrafts and folk art, in Milagros, in certain foods and most of all in the national identity. Aztec rituals merged with those of Christianity and superstition still reigns. This is seen in the many Mexican festivals such as the Day of the Dead where Mexicans set up altars to remember friends and family who have died.  This festival blends both Catholic and Aztec rituals and grew from celebrations dedicated to Mictecacihuati, goddess of death. Catholics all over the world have adopted All Saints Day (November 1^st ) and all Souls Day (November 2^nd ). 

Altar for the Day of the Dead

 Another example of ancient Aztec practices still being alive are seen in Milagros or "miracles"' which are similar to Aztec jewelry.  Milagros are small metal religious good luck charms found in many areas of Latin America, especially Mexico and Peru as well as Europe, where they are often referred to as Exvotos (Offerings).  These small charms usually depict arms, legs, praying people, farm animals and a wide range of other subjects and represent the cultures that produce them.  They are nailed or pinned to crosses or wooden statues of various saints like the Virgin Mary or Christ, sacred objects, saint statues, or hung with little red ribbons or threads from altars and shrines.  

 

Milagros

They are also carried for protection and good luck.  Typically, a believer will make a vow to a saint or to a sacred object, and later they will make a pilgrimage to the site of a shrine or church and take a Milagro there and leave it as a sign of gratitude and devotion. In Mexico, the use of Milagros is connected with an institution known as the “manda”. This where a person will ask a favor of a saint, and then, in order to repay the saint after the favor has been granted, one must make a pilgrimage to the shrine of that saint, and take a Milagros and leave it there. These Milagros are typically pinned to some object of devotion in the shrine, and often a small prayer of thanks is added, written on a piece of paper.

These current religious rituals date back to the spiritual culture of the Aztecs with the Aztec gods and goddesses being replaced by saints and other aspects of the Catholic ceremony

Aztec Jewelry

I was privileged to visit the exhibition at the Australia Museum in Sydney and view the various exhibits of Aztec jewelry on display.

The exhibition was put together by the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in partnership with Mexico’s National Council for Culture and the Arts and the National Institute of Anthropology and History (CONACULTA-INAH), along with the Australian Museum and Museum Victoria. All pictures of the Aztec jewelry shown were taken during my visit to the exhibit.

With over 200 priceless artifacts on display the exhibit  tells the rich and violent story of the birth of modern Mexico. A brutal yet civilized culture, the exhibits shows the story of the daily life of these ancient people with their gods, demons, warriors, slaves, nobles, commoners and human sacrifice. It tells the story of the extravagant possessions of the Aztec emperors while exploring their sacrificial rituals and uncovering the mysteries of the Aztec afterlife.

 This is a model of an Eagle warrior dressed for battle. The costume was made from animal hide, feathers and cotton. Note the beads around the neck and the jade around his wrist. He carried wooden weapons with obsidian blades designed to injure rather than kill. The prisoner would be taken back for human sacrifice. 

Read more about the gods and the role of human sacrifice .

 Rich and valuable Aztec jewelry was mainly worn by emperors, nobles and members of the upper class. Nobles indulged in the finest products, many of which had both a religious and a practical significance. It was believed that greenstone and turquoise were prized by the gods, even more so than gold.  Only the elite could wear gold and these semi precious gems. Aztec jewelry for the more common people and peasants was very colorful, and created from colored beads and hand-painted decorations. 

 A Greenstone Mask of the Olmec Culture 

Masks and figures made by the Mezcala people were another form of treasured Aztec jewelry. The Mezcala people were an ancient group who occupied the region 2000 years prior. The relics of the Mezcala culture were excavated but heavy taxes were imposed on them by the government. The masks were used by the priests to impersonate the gods. They lacked eye holes so were probably on display rather than worn. The figures were used for important daily ceremonies and as offerings to the gods.  The gods were a very important part of everyday life.

Read more about the gods and the role of human sacrifice . 

Greenstone Figure

 Aztec jewelry comprised of necklaces with charms and pendants, armlets, bracelets, leg bracelets, bells and rings. One common form of Aztec jewelry was the ear plug or ear spool, commonly worn by both men and women. Aztec jewelry was very ornate and would feature natural shapes, but would also be crafted into the shapes of birds, and reptiles, often with a religious significance.  Small tinkling bells were popular and were often fashioned to look like flowers.  The little bells would then be hung from necklaces and bracelets or sewn to clothing so that they jangled when the wearer danced. Thus Aztec jewellery often was heard as much as it was seen. Men would often wear ornaments in their noses, through a hole in the nasal septum and suspended from a slit in their lower lip.

 Bells

Aztec jewelry was very symbolic and represented gods and other religious symbols and during religious or state occasions, the nobility would glitter with a wide range of Aztec jewelry. The religious ceremonies in Mexico today are an integration of the ancient Mexican ceremonies mingled with the Spanish Catholic influence. 

 Bells (Copper, Silver)

Aztec jewelry was shaped by craftsmen who learnt their skills in childhood and dedicated their lives to their craft. The tools they used to make the exquisite designs were relatively simple. It was made with a wide variety of materials, and usually more than one type of material went into one piece. Sheets of hammered copper or gold were used extensively in Aztec jewelry, but silver was also commonly used.  Silver is found abundantly in Mexico and silver adornments are still very popular and commonly sold in Mexico today. It is interesting to note however that the majority of Aztec jewelry and other luxury items were made outside of the capital and came to the city via tributes, trade and ceremonial exchange.

 1- Snake shaped Sceptre (Stone, turquoise)

 

4 –Sceptre

5 –Deer Shaped Sceptre (Alabaster)

6 –Sunbeam Sceptre (Alabaster)

7 –String of Beads (Serpentine)

9 -Pendant

10 –Pendant showing God Rural Workers

11-Pendant showing the God of Fire

12 – Ear spools. (Mixtec)

  8- Pendant

14 –Pendant (Conch Shell)

13 – Face Mask (Guerrero Style Serpentine, Shell, Obsidian)

15 –Disc (Conch Shell)

16-Pendant (Greenstone)

 Unfortunately very little of the beautiful gold work of this ancient era survives today. In their lust for gold, the Spanish plundered the gold from the temples and stole gold from the nobles, melted it down and sent it back to Spain. 

 These Bracelets and Shield Shaped Pendant are an example of some ancient golden Aztec jewelry. Known as the Fisherman's Treasure, they were found in 1976 by an  octopus fisherman in a sunken Spanish ship off the coast of Mexico. The pendant was probably owned by a member of the elite. The “C”s were added by the Spanish – this stood for Coronada, the monogram of King Charles V of Spain.

Aztec jewelry also features in their ceremonial armour and shields. However their featherweight garments often with intricate shell bead edging and necklaces were designed for festivals. Combat armory was of similar construction, and was made out of woven reeds and feathers. Sometimes wood or leather were used. Whilst they were good to repel local weapons they were no match for the Spanish in their heavy armor and with steel swords.

Replica Ceremonial Armour

Replica Ceremonial Shield

 Some of the ancient designs of Aztec jewelry are still popular and crafted even today in this modern world. I have sister who lives in Mexico and when I visit I just love browsing through the various market places looking at some of the fabulous creations on sale. I personally have a lot of silver and turquoise pieces purchased in Mexico. I love the designs which have originated from ancient Aztec jewelry and wear them regularly as costume jewellery to spruce up and add color to my outfits. The Australian museum had a wide selection of replica Aztec jewelry on sale.

 

Colorful Mexican Replicas on sale at the museum