Based on eastern culture, kissing in public is considered
taboo, but in Banjar Kaja Sesetan, Southern part of Denpasar
it becomes a festival, called med-medan, that is
held annually and can be seen by the public.
Every year a day after Nyepi, there two groups of teenagers,
one on north side consisting of girls and the other on south
side consisting of boys. The Bleganjur instrument
follows both groups as they walk in ellipse form. The beat
of the Bleganjur becomes faster. Then both groups
have to stand (girls in north and boys in south) face to
face. They then become closer and closer to each other until,
suddenly, the first person in every group kisses each other.
After a couple of minutes both groups will bow down and
some adult people, who behave almost like referees, pour
water over them and the groups will separate. The first
person will be replaced by another and they will repeat
again and again until all the group's members have had their
chance, to be the first person.
What is behind this festival? Based on the people in this
banjar, the aim is to protect the village from any unexpected
thing. Arya Jimbaran, banjar's figure, say that one year
they did not perform the festival resulting in two big pigs
fighting one another to the death in the place where the
festival was normally held. Nobody can separate them. Since
that day, the festival is always held annually in this village.
It is now famous, as many people want to see it. Only if
you are a member of the Banjar Kaja Sesetan you can join
the festival.
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