Mesantalan tradition

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The customary villagers of Apit Yeh, Manggis Karangasem, organized a traditional mesantalan, on Tuesday (May 26). This unique tradition involves all the local village youths attackimg one another by throwing ketupat (rice patty) at each other. This tradition is preserved in honor of the journey of  princess Ida Dalem Selumbung when she was to get married to Ida Dalem Apit Yeh.

Headman of Apit Yeh, Made Sarjana, just before the ritual tradition said that mesantalan takes place once a year, precisely on kajeng kliwon of the twelfth month of Balinese calendar (around May-June). This tradition originates from when Ida Dalem Apit Yeh proposed to Ida Dalem Selumbung and her father gave her rice patties as provisions for her journey. When she got to Apit Yeh, the princess threw the bag of rice to the residents who considered this as grace bestowed upon them by the princess.
This tradition takes place over one day.  In the morning local residents release a calf, that is then whipped by the locals, causing the calf to run around the village. The residents then follow it around, to "hunt it down".  This ritual of running around the outskirts of the village three times is intended to clean the village of impurities. The calf must be of good quality, must be male and may not have any disabilities. In the end, the calf is slaughtered as caru (animal sacrifice) shortly before the peak of the mesantalan ritual tradition. In the meantime, the rest of the ingredients to be used as caru are processed by local youth from four customary hamlets for maprani after the masantalan.
Having made the preparations, local youth continues to strike the kulkul (wooden split drum) in each customary hamlet consisting of the Kaleran, Kangin, Kawan and Kelod. The kulkuls continue to be beaten simultaneously until the peak of the mesantalan takes place. The noise is meant to evoke the spirit of youth. Before the rice patty throwing starts, all the residents of Apit Yeh customary village say prayers in four temples. They are the Taman Temple as ulun suwi, Bale Agung Temple, Puseh and Penanggun Desa (village border) Temple. The caru is also offered at the edge of the village, having been prepared since the morning.
After the mecaru procession, the youth are ready to get involved in the rice patty war where two groups, facing opposite directions throw the patties at each other. The two groups are only separated by two wooden logs places about 10 meters apart. This process goes with much excitement and thrill. A number of youth may be hit with rice patties as the throwing goes on for 15 minutes, between 4:10 p.m. and 4:25 p.m. To prevent any trouble, the masantalan is closely guarded by pecalang or customary security guard. Although residents look very excited throwing the rice patties at each each other, after all is said and done there are no feelings of wanting to take revenge.
In fact the people who were thawing ketupat at each other are quickly reunited though the process of maprani (eating together) and remain friends. “Having completed the masantalan, we engage in maprani to solidify friendships,” said one residents, Made Agus.
After the tradition is carried out. there is no sense of wanting revenge. This tradition is also intended to eliminate the sad ripu or six enemies within our selves, so that only the sad guna or six good behaviors are left. The final objective is to preserve serenity and peace under the protection of God. (kmb31)www.bali-travelnews.com
balinese life & culture