Based on Balinese Hindu beliefs, the growth of a baby is accompanied by a ritual sequence from the time that the baby is in the mother's womb in order to prevent it from being influenced by negative powers, says Priest Ida Pandita Mpu Nabe Bhirudaksa, a holy priest from Griya Asita, Mengwi, Badung.

The ritual ceremonies begin when the fetus is about six months old, with the ceremonies at the actual birth constituting the second rite of passage. The latter are mainly directed toward the four invisible brothers (in Balinese called the Kanda Empat) rather than toward the newborn child itself, and are mostly concerned with the placenta. Three ceremonies take place prior to birth: Pengerujakan ceremony, Pegedong Gedongan ceremony and Nglukat Bobotan ceremony.

The Pengerujakan ceremony aims to strengthen the baby while in the mother's womb to avoid a miscarriage. Moreover, by conducting this ceremony, it is hoped that the embryo attains a definite human form and that the four invisible brothers (Kanda Empat) are already behind the baby to give it spiritual protection. This kind of ceremony is mostly held when the mother begins craving sour foods, which is locally called ngidam.