This Video was taken at one small village in the eastern side of Bali island, it was a year a go but it seem this dance is worth to watch again and again. Fire Dance is normally performance at the temple after temple festival, this dance is sacred dance, and also known as Sanghyang Dance or Jaran Gading *. this dance was perform at Babakan Village temple, which is located in Karang asem regency. This dance started at 20:00 bali time till finish. Sanghyang Jaran Gading is a kind of trance dance in which the entranced dancers imitate the the movement of soldier on horseback. It is said that in Sanghyang Jaran dance, the dancers are possessed by ancestral deity, a Gandarwa (celestial soldier) on horseback. The dancers for this sacred dance are usually the Pemangku (temple priest) or a group of chosen men, that are put into trance with wafted of incense and chorus of Sanghyang song. In the state of trance the dancer fall, convulsed to the ground and rush to grab hobby horses. During the pre-trance chanting, coconut shells have been lit, leaving red and HOts . The entranced dancers leap into the red-hot coals, prancing on top of them, picking up the hot pieces and bathing themselves in fire. Since this dance is seldom performance for tourist attraction , if you want to watch it while you are in Bali, you should check with your travel agent or your bali driver ( local buddy). Check this Sanghyang Dance video !Fire dance is one of the most unique dance in Bali, since its have mystical influence .
Bali Culture
Sanghyang Dance : Fire Dance
Sacrifice Ceremony before Nyepi day
Before Nyepi, or Silence day, the big scarification ceremonies or in Bahasa “Tawur Kesanga” ritual is held all over Bali. The word “tawur” literally means, “pay” in a sense of a giving to the demons or bhuta kala, personification to negative spirits, in order to restore the harmony of life. And kesanga is the ninth month in Balinese Caka calendar based on lunar calender. The ninth or kesanga is considered the worst month by the Balinese, with troublesome rainy season, and when even the earth is said to be sick and feverish (panes). It is believed that the Lord of Hell, Yama, sweeps Hades of devils, which fall on Bali, making it imperative that the whole of the island be purified.
This Scarification ritual is always held on the new moon of the ninth month of Balinese Caka calendar that always coincide with the spring equinox. This ritual is believed to be an effective way to purify the island in order to make a harmonious relation between human being and God, human and human, and human and their environments, the after all clean and purity we are ready for the new year. New hope and hoping for better life a head.