Thursday 4 December 2008

Odalan Ring Pura Kahyangan Sakti, Sidakarya, Buda Kliwon Ugu

One of the last remaining Sanur Style temples, with its sister temple the Pura Dalem — red brick shrines and ornamental Bairawa style gate, white sand courts, statuesque kamboja trees like a small forest of canopy umbrellas. The Barong, Ratu Ayu and Dewa Rangda are in place facing the five petite shrines as thirty lay priests and patih perform the pujawali. Enchanting and intoxicating — the gamelan picks through the heavy coastal night air. Every element of the scene so classical and well groomed, particularly the tiny tots how follow there parents proudly. Putu is pressing me to hit the carpark for babi guling, into the Manusa Yadnya area where teenagers flirt and gambol. After an afternoon at ground zero it seems a universe away. Aum Shanti Shanti Shanti. Aum.