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"Mekare-kare" (Sambah Temple Festival)

At Tenganan Pengringsingan Date: 28 - 29 June 2001 Time: Approx 12 PM At Tenganan Dauh Tukad

Date	Activities
4 July 2001	Nulak Damar CeremonyAt about 6 PM - the Teruna (boys) and the Daha (girls) are involved in procession, carrying the GODS from Penyimpenan (special house where the gods are kept) to the Bale Agung temple accompanied by the Baleganjur orchestra. At 8 PM- the Taruna Sarpaha (new members of boys club) turn the large swings with special lamps and offering around them. They turn the swings to the north three times and then to the south three times. After this ceremony is complete, they come to Bale Banjar (the village hall) to have 'palagantung' (9 light foods) served to them by the Krama Desa (the married men).
5 July 2001	Penampahan Ceremony Morning- the Krama Desa and Taruna slaughter pigs in preparation for an offering and feast
6 July 2001	Metekrok ceremony Morning-the Krama Desa and Taruna perform the following:
	1. Pigs and ducks are slaughtered for the offerings and feast to come. 2. Fruits bearing tree are placed in the ground. These are put in front of the Bale Banjar and Bale Agung Temples. At 3 PM the Krama desa have a procession, walking around the recently placed trees three times accompanied by the gambelan and 'nyongnyong' orchestra. After finishing this part of the ceremonies the Taruna Serpaha wearing a special traditional dress together with the older Taruna perform the same ceremonies as the Krama Desa. After this procession is finished, people (usually children) who have been watching the ceremony can pick up the trees. This usually result a friendly struggle amongst those participating.
7 July 2001	Taruna Nyambah Ceremony At about 10 AM - all Taruna Sarpaha go to temple to worship. At about 4 Pm - Krama Desa, Daha and Taruna go to pray in the Penyimpenan Gegaduhan Desa (a special house where the manuscript of the village are kept). The Taruna Serpaha turn the Daha (girls) on the large swings of ferris wheel to the north 3 times and again to the south 3 times. At 7 PM - the Taruna Serpaha carried on the back by older Tarunas and followed by people carrying offering on their heads, go to Dalem Kangin and Bale Agung temple to pray. They run as fast as they can around the Bale Agung temple and swings three times accompanied by the sound of the gamelan gong and 'kulkul' (wooden bells)
8 July 2001	At about 10.30 AM - people of Pekarangan (on the west side of Tenganan Dauh Tukad ) come to the village to pray. These villagers have adat relations. Taruna Serpaha perform the pendet (welcome dance) at the Bale Agung temple. At 12.30 PM - Mekare-kare ceremonies is performed b the Taruna and Krama Desa. They hold a shield in their left hand and a bundle of spiky pandanus leaves in their right hand which they use as a weapon attempting to inflict scratches on the back of their opponent. This ceremony is accompanied by the sound of the gamelan gong.
16 July 2001	Ngempik Ceremony Morning - the Krama Desa, Taruna and the young boys kill pigs for offering and feast. At 10 AM - new members of girls club go to temple to worship. At noon - the Taruna (boys) carry flowers, food and offerings and walk to the Subak house of the girls. The Subak house is a place where the girls assemble to do preparations for the temple festival and where they receive gifts from Taruna. At about 12.30 PM - the girls have procession walking from the Subak house to the Bale Agung Temple. They carry offerings and gifts for the Taruna. This ceremony is also called 'mejot-mejotan' (take and give) between the boys and the girls at Tenganan Dauh Tukad. After the ceremony, both boys and girls have lunch. At 7 PM - the Tarunas carry (on their shoulders) the new Daha to the temple to pray. At 9.30 PM - the Bebalang-Balangan ceremony is performed at the Bale Banjars. The boys and girls do a small dance called 'abuang' before a bonfire accompanied by 'nyongnyong' archestra. They throw some money (coins)into the 'wakul' (bamboo box) which is placed by the bonfire. This money is donation to the girls club. After the ceremony is finished, the Krama Desa and Taruna have dinner.
17 July 2001	Perejangan ceremony
	Morning - Krama Desa and Taruna slaughter pigs in preparation for offering and feast. At 10 AM - the girls perform the Rejang Dance at the Bale Agung Temple. At 11.30 AM - Krama desa, Daha and Taruna have lunch. At 5.30 PM - Krama desa, Daha and Taruna come to Bale Agung temple where some of them perform te pendet and Rejang Dances. At about 7 PM - praying together at Bale Agung Temple. At about 7.30 PM - The Taruna holding up their kris, and run around the Bale Agung 3 times, accompanied by the sound of gamelan gong and 'kulkul'. 7. At 8.30 PM - the carry the GOD (Manda ceremony) around the Bale Agung temple 3 times accompanied by the sound of Baleganjur orchestra.
18 July 2001	Panyimpenan ceremony At 5.30 PM - Krama desa, Daha and Taruna come to Bale Agung to worship. At 7 PM - they have a procession carrying the symbol of God from the Bale Agung Temple to Penyimpenan House accompanied by baleganjur orchestra. During this festival the Taruna have to sleep at night at Bale Agung while the Krama Desa sleep at the Bale Banjar.