- Title: INDONESIA: MASS CREMATION CEREMONY BEGINS ON BALI FOR MORE THAN 50 VILLAGERS
- Date: 21st July 2004
- Summary: (L!2) BALI, INDONESIA (JULY 21,2004) (REUTERS) SLV/S/CU RELATIVES DIGGING UP GRAVES (4 SHOTS) SV/MCU LINE OF DIGGERS (2 SHOTS) SV/MCU WOMEN IN TRADITIONAL CLOTHES WATCHING (2 SHOTS)
- Embargoed: 5th August 2004 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: NATURAL WITH BAHASA INDONESIA SPEECH
- City:
- Country: Indonesia
- Topics: General,Religion
- Reuters ID: LVA3DJUXOD9KRYO6EHHPTLUUVQ4V
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: A mass cremation ceremony has begun on the Indonesian island of Bali for more than 50 villagers, some of whom died more than four years ago.
Villagers on the Indonesian island of Bali began cremating fifty-two dead relatives on Wednesday (July 21), some of whom who died more than four years ago.
The ceremony was held in the village of Ubud on the resort island of Bali.
Men and women in traditional sarongs filled the gravesite as relatives of the deceased took turns digging to exhume the bodies from their graves.
The bodies were then wrapped in palm mats and placed in a line on simple bamboo supports for the cremation.
Relatives and friends gave offerings to the deceased, some in the form of money to spend in the afterlife.
In the Hindu religion cremation is meant to liberate the soul of the dead allowing it to travel to heaven and re-incarnation.
For the Balinese Hindu's this cremation ceremony is the culmination of a series of ceremonies throughout their lives and as well as being the most important it is also the most expensive to perform.
So in many villages, a mass cremation will be held so the expense can be shared and relatives can finally fulfil their obligations to their deceased relatives.
"My grandmother was cremated in this mass cremation. I am happy that we joined in here for this ceremony, it meant that we did not have to spend too much money " said Kadek Ardika.
"The uncle of my husband was cremated, I finally feel relieved, I have done my obligation" said Made Candra.
Wednesday's mass cremation comes just days ahead of a royal cremation for Tjokorda Istri Niyang Muter who died on June 5, at the age of 94.
It is expected to be the biggest ceremony of its kind for decades perhaps the last of the major royal cremations.
Muter was the last of 11 children of the old King of Ubud, Tjokorda Gde Sukawati. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
