Taken from Bali Post, Wednesday, 11 January 2009
Translated by Putu Semiada
Translated by Putu Semiada
Pura Dalem Suargan which is located in Jambangan, sayan Ubud, Gianyar is likely going to be demolished by an investor. This is because the temple is in the location of 13 hectare property has been conquered by PT. Bank Permata. The property was previously a village. A sign which forbids any party to enter the property without a permission from the investor is found there which has caused the pengemong (custodians) are worried.
It is said also that the villagers who would like to do ceremonies at this temple are often intimidated by the investor by mobilizing armies with long guns. The worst situation happened on 9 September 2009 when a temple ceremony was being conducted and the villagers were not allowed to enter the area.
One of the Banjar Pande traditional leader, A.A. Oka Adnyana said that the temple has been there for hundred years. He also said that the property was a village before, called Jambangan village, complete with Kahyangan Tiga Temples and a cemetery. This temple is one of the Kahyanagan Tiga.
It is said that some years ago plant disease attacked the village which made the villagers panic. Some of them then moved to other villages, e.g. Blahkiuh, Badung and Kelabang Moding, Ubud. But some of them remain staying at the village until now and become member of Banjar Pande community.
Intimidated by land Broker
The people who lived in the village were intimidated by land brokers so decided to leave their village.
Even they don’t live at the village anymore, but they still come to the temple for ceremonies. They even collect holy water from the temple when they have temple ceremony at Blahkiuh, the village where they live now. That’s why they keep looking after the temple. Wayan Wana, the klian (community leader) of Bajar Pande agrees to this. The villagers did not know about the transfer of ownership until they found the sign.
“We are worried about how we can look after the temple,” says Wayan Wana.
