DENPASAR (indo.com): February 23, 2002 is a special day set aside on the Balinese calendar to give thanks to the creation of metal goods. Specific offerings are made in the home for kitchen implements, garden tools and metallic parts of machinery, vehicles and the like. Builders generally take a day's rest to make offerings for their work tools.

Two people from smith's clan produce a kris, a wavy double-bladed dagger

This special day for Balinese Hindu people is called "Tumpek Landep", a day devoted to Sang Hyang Pasupati, Lord of heirlooms, weapons and tools made of metal to their ensure proper function and maintain their magical power. At every house compound and temple, prayers are said to God so that these material things continue to be strong and bring good fortune upon their owners.

Within the family temples, where heirlooms such as the traditional krisses (wavy daggers) and other weapons are kept, offerings are made to ensure the continued magical power of these implements. The kris is considered a standard part of traditional Balinese dress. During a wedding ceremony the groom will wear one across his back if the family has one, and you can see them on most male characters in Balinese dances, operas and dramas.

Vehicles are also cleaned and given a set of offerings. Visitors to Bali at this will see thousands of cars, motorbikes, computers and other metal goods being fully decorated with offerings and elaborate ornaments made from young coconut leaves.

This day of remembrance occurs once every 210 days on the Balinese calendar. The 210-day cycle for all ceremonies and days of remembrance means that there is no correlation with the Gregorian calendar that we use; to determine any special days for the Balinese one needs to seek out the date on the complex Balinese calendar.