Ngaben : Traditional Cremation Ceremony

Ngaben or the Traditional Cremation Ceremony in Bali is the ritual performed to send the dead through the transition to his next life. Ngaben, the Balinese word for cremation, is an important event in the tradition of the Balinese people. Ngaben is a purification rite which frees the spirit from its temporary earthly house and facilitates its journey to its next existence. To the people of Bali, death is not an event to be mourned, and is seen as a passage of the soul to a better world, where it starts to prepare for re-incarnation and a newer life. It is a custom and part of a tradition in Bali when someone dies, the whole villager (where one was lives) will help with the preparation for the cremation. The entire villager (but especially for family and relatives) will participate on the day of the cremation ceremony.

Ngaben in Bali is not one that has any sorrow or tears in it. In fact, it is celebrated with great pomp and fervor. The people make it a point to laugh, sing and dance, and celebrate the death of a loved one during the Cremation Ceremony. The most important occasion among the Bali Events and Festivals, the Cremation Ceremony in Bali is a truly colorful and spectacular event that is celebrated with so much fanfare and enjoyment, that one would be amazed to know it was a cremation ceremony.

The Cremation Ceremony in Bali consists of two kinds of ceremonies, the Ngaben, or the cremation ceremony, and the Nyekah or Ngasti, a ceremony performed after cremation. At the Cremation Ceremony in Bali, the body of the deceased is placed at Bale Delod, as if he were sleeping. No tears are shed, for he is only gone temporarily and he will reincarnate into the family.

The Priest consults the Dewasa to determine the proper day for the ceremony. The night before the cremation, holy water will be collected from some main temple and used in preparation of the body and during the cremation. On the day of the ceremony, the body of the deceased is placed inside a coffin which is then placed inside a sarcophagus in the form of a buffalo (called Lembu) or a temple structure called Wadah made of paper and light wood. The Wadah will be carried to the village cremation site in a procession.

The climax of Ngaben is the burning of the Wadah, using fire originating from a holy source. The deceased is sent to his afterlife, to be reincarnated in the future. Another priest performs the last rites and carries the ashes to be disposed off. It is the final separation of the soul from the body.

Location of Destination
Bali Island, Republic of Indonesia.

Route to Get Destination
By plane to Sukarno-Hata Airport (Jakarta). Then by domestic flight about 1 hours and 50 minutes from Sukarno-Hatta Airport (Jakarta) to I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport (Denpasar, Bali Island). Or by international direct flight to I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport (Denpasar, Bali Island).

Best Time to Visit
Anytime cremation ceremony is held

Accommodation for Traveller
There are many hotels, villas, guest houses near any place that celebrate the cremation ceremony (Ngaben) in Bali.

Borobudur Temple

Borobudur Temple is a Mahayana Buddhist temple which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of the greatest architectural monuments in Asia. The base of Borobudur is 123 x 123 meter squares in size. The highest point of Borobudur is about 35 m from ground level. The temple structure forms a sacred flower of Buddha, Lotus Flower. It is made up of three main structures. The lowest part of the temple structures is made up of six rectangular stories. This part is known as Kamadhatu. The walls of Kamadhatu are decorated with relief panels about story of Buddha. The middle part of the temple structures is three circular terraces, known as Rupadhatu. Around Rupadhatu are 72 openworks bell-shaped stupa, each of which contains a statue of Buddha. And third part is a great central stupa on the top of the temple, known as Arupadhatu.

Borobudur Temple was built at about eighth century and completed in 825 AD, during the reign of King Samaratungga of the Syailendra Dynasty, one of powerful kingdoms in Java Island on the period. Borobudur Temple resemble a microcosm of the universe and provide a visual image of the teachings of Buddha. It also shows the steps through the life that each person must follow to achieve enlightenment.

Every year Buddhists from some countries in South East Asia observe their Sacred Day of Waisak in Borobudur Temple. Waisak Festival at Borobudur basically celebrates the birth, enlightenment and the death of Lord Buddha. This religious festival is held on the evening of the full moon day in the month of May.

The Waisak Festival at Borobudur at Indonesia consists of a pilgrimage to this holy place. The monks dressed in saffron robes walk for five miles from Mendut to Borobudur. They carry candles and orange flowers as offerings with them. The procession starts in the evening. As soon as the soft white light of the moon illuminates the exterior of the temple, the monks light the candle and start chanting holy chants. They also pray and meditate at the same time. This holy ceremony is marked by its spirituality and tranquility. The true essence of the Buddhist religion can be easily understood from this Buddhist festival.

Location of Destination
Borobudur Temple is located in Magelang region, approximately 40 km northwest City of Yogyakarta, the capital of Yogyakarta Province in Java Island, Republic of Indonesia.

Route to Get Destination
By plane to Sukarno-Hata Airport (Jakarta).
Then by domestic flight about 45 minutes from Sukarno-Hatta Airport (Jakarta) to Adisucipto Airport (Yogyakarta), or by train about 10 hours from Gambir Station (Jakarta) to Tugu Station (Yogyakarta).
Then by car or bus approximately 1 hours from Bus Station (Yogyakarta) to the location of Borobudur Temple.

Best Time to Visit
April to October

Accommodation for Traveller
Near Borobudur : Manohara Hotel, Saraswati Borobudur Hotel, and Amanjiwo Resort.
In Yogyakarta City : Sheraton Mustika Hotel, Hyatt Regency Hotel, Inna Garuda Hotel, Novotel Hotel, Grand Mercure Hotel, Ibis Hotel, and Santika Hotel.

Others
There are some banks around city of Yogyakarta. Government-owned Bank such as Bank BNI 46 and Bank Mandiri. Non-Government-owned Bank such as Bank BCA.
There are also some book stores in Yogyakarta city that sell tourism information books, such as Gramedia Book Store.