Melasti Ceremony

Melasti Ceremony is a stage of silent day  celebration where the Balinese take the pratima to the sea purification.
The Melasti ritual is performed 3–4 days beforehand. It is dedicated to Sanghyang Widhi Wasa. The ritual is performed in Pura ( Balinese Temple ) near the sea (Pura Segara) and meant to purify Arca, Pratima, and Pralingga (sacred objects) belonging to several temples, also to acquire sacred water from the sea. The purpose of this Melasti ceremony is to purify Bhuana Alit (small world) and Bhuana Agung (this universe) from bad influences, bad deeds and bad thoughts. 



Bhuana Alit (small world) is meaning the heart / soul of each individual who lives in this world while Bhuana Agung was the wide world or this universe. This ceremony is very important value to remind /realize how important this life and we need a day to purify ourselves and the universe. With this ceremony, all the components that live in this world have a clean soul so the world can survive from the threat of a bad thing.
Performed with a parade procession by thousand of Hindu people as participants, the ritual begins with the preparation of a walking crowd with the Pratima placed in a Jempana, a carriage for the pratima and paraded towards a water source ( a lake or beach) that is located not far from the temple in a nearby village. people walk together and help each other to bring the pratima to the water source with a percussion accompaniment called Baleganjur.
At the edge of the water source, the procession takes the holy water for a cleaning ritual dedicated to all participant and the pratime follow as the next step.
After the cleansing procession, all participants pray facing to the water source led by Pemangku. After pray, all the participant will carry back the Pratima to the temple.
The ceremony continues at the temple called Mecaru, which is an offering addressed to the evil spirits who live in the world.
The Balinese Hindu believe that all parts of Universe have their own purpose including evil spirit, which they believe should not be dismissed but are to be controlled so they will setill be able to fullfill their purpose in this world. As Balinese Hindu believe that to sense heaven in this world is to live without polarity. There is good neither bad. All the same, they present with certain purpose.