Bali's rebirth through purification ceremony

DENPASAR (indo.com): The entire island of Bali paused in a final act of exorcism, ridding itself of the unspeakable crimes visited upon it by the evil people who perversely believed their own power could somehow be advanced by shedding the blood of innocents.

Made ritually unclean by the carnage in their ancestral lands, the Balinese held ceremonies in every village across the island and a major series of events on the south island attended by thousands. This ceremony was held on Friday, November 15, 2002, centered at ground zero.

51 relatives of the victims of the bombing, ranking Australian officials, foreign dignitaries including the U.S. and U.K. Ambassadors, and members of President Megawati's cabinet also joined in the ceremonies.

At the same time, the beachside ceremonies on Kuta beach required the ritual slaughter of some 79 animals that had been spiritually cleansed and prepared for days before Friday's climatic ceremony. The animals, carefully selected, once sacrificed are believed to have ended their journey as animals in the cosmos, soon to be reincarnated as human beings.

Special prayers were offered at the scene of the bombing near the Sari Club for the Pemarisudha Karipubhaya ceremony, releasing the souls of the dead that are considered by the Balinese to dwell near the site in a state of disembodied confusion.