Panka Wali Krama

Pura Besakih is the Hindus mother tem- ple in Bali, 10th century holy place located in the Eastern part of Bali, in Karangasem. Every ten years Yadnya Panca Wali Krama ceremony is held at the mother temple. Pan- ca means five, representing the five elemen- ts of the universe Panca Maha Bhuta, whi- le Wali means offer, ceremony. Panca Wali Krama is the second biggest ceremony of the whole island of Bali, after Eka Dasa Ru- dra, which is held once every hundred years.

All Hindu communities from all over Bali joined the event all together, from January till April 2019, as symbol of their faithfulness to the Almighty God Sang Hyang Widhi.

During Panca Wali Krama the Melasti pro- cession takes place. Hindu communities wander for 65km from Pura Besakih to Klo- tok beach in Klungkung as ritual of clean- sing the world from all the filth of sins and bad karma, through the symbolic act of ac- quiring the Tirta Amerta, “the water of life”.

Melasti ceremony is held on the edge of the beach with the aim to purify oneself from all the past bad and throw it to the oce- an. In Hindu belief, the source of water such as lake and sea water, are conside- red as the source of life (Tirta Amrita).

Canang Sari are the daily offerings made by Balinese Hindus to thank Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa, to express gratefulness for the peace given to the world and so renewed each day. Offerings are made by women, who craft the leaf baskets which are then filled with different donations as rice grains, money, colourful flowers, sweets, tobacco, fruits and incense. Each different colors of petal also bears significance, symbolizing a relation to a god and a direction. White petals to the east are for Iswara, the god of Nature. Red petals to the south are given for Brahma, symbolizing the power of creation. Mahadeva and the west are represented by yellow petals. And blue or green is the color for the northern direction and the protective god Vishnu. The ritual ends with a little prayer spoken as smoke from burning incense carries the essence of the offering to the gods.

During Panca Wali Krama offerings are carried on the heads of women to the temple, blessed by the Pemangku (temple priest), and then eaten by the worshippers as part of their purification. People are also sprinkled with holy water by the Pemangku priest and then few rice grains are placed over prayers’ foreheads as symbol of purification. Panca Wali Krama pursues greater harmony for the universe through rituals of purification, so that the wellness of Earth and all creatures can be guaranteed.