Balinese Hindus to celebrate "Tumpek Landep",
a day for metal goods
DENPASAR (indo.com): June 12, 2004 is a special day set
aside on the Balinese calendar to give thanks to Sang
Hyang Pasupati, Lord of heirlooms, for the creation of
metal goods.
On that day, 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 off to make offerings for their work tools.
This special day for Balinese Hindu people is called
"Tumpek Landep" day, devoted to Sang Hyang Pasupati,
Lord of heirlooms, weapons and metal tools for proper
function and magical power. The celebration is held at
every house compound and temple.
With these offerings, special prayers are said to pray
to God so that these material things continue to be strong
and bring good fortune to their owners.
Within the family temples where heirlooms such as krisses
(wavy double-bladed 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 of the male characters in Balinese
dances, operas and dramas.
Offerings are also given to any kind of vehicles after
being cleaned. It would be a good opportunity for travelers
to Bali to witness how thousands of cars, motorbikes and
other metal items are fully decorated with the offerings
and ornaments made from young coconut leaves.
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