Taken from ‘Bungklang Bungkling’, ‘Leak Marginal’, a column by I Wayan Juniartha, as published in Bali Post, Sunday 4thApril 2010. Translated by Putu Semiada
Leak Marginal (Marginal Black Magic People)
Who becomes the victim of development in Bali? The answer is: they are the people practising black magic because black magic people have become ‘marginal group’ now.
That’s why during the ‘Purnama Kedasa’ (the tenth full moon), they hold a congress, called ‘The Impact of Modernisation, Globalisation and Free Trade Era against The Future of Balinese Black Magic’. ‘Purnama Kedasa’ is chosen as all the gods from all over Bali gathers in Besakih Temple. Therefore, the rest of the temples in Bali have no gods available so this situation are safe for practising black magic.
“No gods will disturb our congress. They are not consistent. When we give them ‘atman’, they will defend us, but when the ‘balian’ (shamans) give them something better, they will against us,” says I Ketut Lenda-Lendi, the chairman.
The most vocal one is the black magic person from Kuta, Ni Made Pudak Sategal. According to him, massive tourism development has ‘reduced’ the chance for Balinese people to learn ‘leak’ (black magic).
“There is no more a place for practising. Many cemeteries have been provided with iron doors and locks. Why should I jump over the door when I want to practise ‘leak’ in the cemetery. It’s not our style. We have our own dignity. Only amateur thieves do that.”
The roads in Kuta are no longer spooky. Everywhere you have big spot lights and they are very bright, and you can see tourists in every place too, from night until dawn. There are police too to make sure the place is safe, especially from terrorists. That’s why we don’t dare to practise ‘leak’ by the crossroads. If we do, they will bust us or we will be run over by cars driven by drunken vigilantes.”
Once I practised ‘leak’ in one of the corners in Kuta, just when I started to loose my hair, fold my sarong, suddenly some guys whistled at me and they wanted to ‘book’ me. I then realize that most of prostitutes in Kuta have their hair loose and wear mini skirts,” says Ni Luh Nyoman Calon Barang.
The chairman of leak of Serangan Island, I Ketut Geruda Mas 24 Karat has another opinion. According to him, the development in Bali has spoiled the environment; forests are destroyed, rivers are filled up, caves are changed to tourism objects. Leak and nature are one. If one side is spoiled, so will the other.
“You know if I practise leak in Serangan lately, that is when I’ve changed to an eagle, for example, I often don’t find my way back home because the island looks getting bigger and bigger after they did beach reclamation around the island. The mangroves have also gone and changed to malls and supermarkets. It makes me difficult to find a quiet and good place to practise leak.”
Of course it’s not funny if we practise leak in the supermarket. Can you imagine how we can carry sanggah cucuk (a box made of woven bamboo to place offerings) to third floor, for instance, or how can we change to celuluk (witch), in front of a boutique selling made in Italy underwear.
“They will indeed think that we are a tourist attraction and many of them will watch and give applause. They will even laugh, and of course take pictures. This will make my magical power useless.”
“I can say that leak has 3 weakness: they are afraid of reckless people, laughing people and bad-tempered people. Leak doesn’t dare to deal with reckless people at all.”
On the other hand, the chairman of leak of Denpasar, Sanur and surrounds doesn’t agree with Free Trade.
You see, more and more people come from Lombok, Banyuwangi, Banten selling magic oil, magic poison and black magic. If we let this thing happens, we will be finished. The government should take immediate action to deal with this issue and give us protection and provide loan for leak-small and middle-scale business.
The congress, finally comes up with the following recommendations: (1) The development in Bali must be controlled. (2) Protect the forests, bushy lands, and ‘spooky’ places from people trying to change the function of the lands. (3) PLN (electricity) should do ‘random power cuts’ so the leak still have some ‘dark’ spot during the night to practise black magic. (4). There should be a regulation on leak traffic and black magic. (5). Each mall, supermarket, hotel and other public places should provide a special room for practising leak. (6) ‘Leak’ people are forbidden to be politicians as politicians are dirty. (7) Leak should be considered as one of the World Miracles.
Next kajang kliwon (special day for ground spirits), the leak people will come to the Legislative Assembly office and governor to deliver the recommendation of their congress. They have to meet them during the working hours. Because nobody will accept them during the midnight as they always do when they practise black magic.
