Taken from ‘Bungklang Bungkling’, ‘BISUL’, a column by I Wayan Juniartha,
as published in Bali Post, Sunday, 4th October 2009.
Translated by Putu Semiada
A B S C E S S
In the old days our parents often told us advices (piteket) which sound strange from modern point of view.
The one that we often told is that the children are not allowed to sit on pillow. If they do, they may get abscess.
But it has never happened to children. Probably it because they are now immune to such disease.
“Formerly, the material for the pillow was kapok. So if you had often sat on it, it would have been torn. And if you farted as well, it would be very stink, though,” comments I Made Sok Tahu (I Made Pretends to Know).
The others don’t really pay attention to what Made says. They think that in the rainy and cloudy weather like this, it would be better for them to just be quiet. Drinking hot coffee or palm wine would be much better.
“In addition, pillow is supposed to be placed by your head, so never sit on it. It’s like you put your shoes on your head.”
Thing like this is understandable as our ancestors didn’t really know how to explain about expensive pillow or Tri Angga concept (concept on the three part of human body; top (head), middle, and bottom (legs).
As they had problem how to explain about sacred-profane, so they might think the best way to deal with thing like this is by creating irrational reason.
We are also not allowed to cut our nail in the evening. They say if we do, it means that we want our parents die soon. It sounds strange of course, as no children want their parents die soon.
So many of their advices sound spooky but as a matter of fact, they don’t.
“There was no electricity in the old days. If you cut your nail in the dark, you might cut your finger,” says I Putu Adi Kene Adi Keto (I Putu Why Is That)
It is not allowed either to buy nails or have hair cut in the evening. If you do, your hair cut may look ugly in spite of SBY look.
We are not allowed either to sweep the yard nor whistle at the same time in the evening because a witch may come approaching you.
“Of course when you are whistling while sweeping in the evening, your neighbour may get disturb,” says I Made.
Ironically, the situation now is very different where the young people do things more than just whistling; they are more ‘noisy’. Some ride their motor bikes late night with very loud noise exhausts. Some even scream while enjoying music in the cafés. The police do not dare to shoot them, nor the black magic women. People practising black magic are the ones who are afraid of being hit by cars or motor bikes.
But we find no people sweeping the yards in the evening now. Because the house maids go out with their boyfriends and the house wives are busy watching cinetrons.
In the old days, rice is something ‘expensive’ and rare, so they asked their children to finish up the rice every time they had meal. No leftover. Otherwise their black chicken would die.
These days more and more children eat less and less rice. And their parents do not have chicken, let alone the black ones. So now it is common for the children not to finish up their rice.
In the old days, we should leave a small amount of rice in the jar. So if our ancestors ‘visited’ our house, they still had something to eat.
“Look now we have Warung Padang (Sumatran dish food stalls) which open twenty four hours. If our ancestors ask for rice, we can buy them rice and rending (beef),” says Putu jokingly.
So, new era needs new way of life.
