Ngaben (Cremation)

Pekak Sinah's cremation ceremony was a profound event, one of many of its kind in Bali. Balinese Hinduism is distinctive, fusing ancient Hindu traditions with unique Balinese variations. Preparation for a funeral spans months, involving significant financial and emotional investments. Families prepare special foods, hire a gamelan music group to play funeral songs, and meticulously plan rituals.

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During the ceremony, the body is cleansed with flowers while people sing sacred songs or recite prayers to guide the soul on its journey to meet the gods. In Balinese Hindu tradition, a happy and peaceful farewell is believed to be essential for the departing soul to have a positive encounter with the divine.

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Pekak Sinah's daughters refrained from shedding tears in front of their father's body. This absence of mourning is due to the belief that a joyful farewell ensures good Dharma and Karma for the deceased. The family found solace in the anticipation of a favorable reincarnation for Pekak Sinah.

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As the only foreign guest, I was invited to participate in the ceremony. They asked me to take photos with them, and they kindly offered explanations of each moment of the ritual. Initially reluctant to take photos, I felt the solemnity of the moment and was afraid to interrupt it. However, when other attendees started using their cell phones, knowing I was a photographer, they insisted I join. 

 

In the final act, the body was placed in a colorful chariot, which was set on fire by the Brahman, a Hindu priest. At the end of the day, the ashes of Pekak Sinah would join the currents of a nearby river.