The Besakih Temple ceremony is the most significant Hindu ritual ceremony in Bali and lasts almost a month. This ceremony is a type of Hindu religious ceremony involving all Hindus in Bali. Meanwhile, the peak of this ceremony takes place from April 5 to April 26, 2023. The Balinese know this ceremony as Betara Turun Kabeh (Balinese). A ceremony depicting all the gods and manifestations of God is held at the Pesamuan Agung (Long Bale Building) in Besakih Temple. They unite to give grace to their people. For this reason, all Hindus offer devotion to God. The Balinese carry out this ceremony yearly on Sasih Kedasa (the tenth month according to the Balinese calendar).
Meanwhile, Besakih Temple is the largest temple complex on the island of the gods. In this temple area, there are many temples to worship the Balinese’s ancestors. Thus, the Balinese know that Besakih Temple is a complex of ancestral temples or Mother Temples. In addition, we can also find a temple to worship God. The Balinese see this place as Penataran Agung, in the middle of the Besakih temple area.
Location of Besakih Temple as Mother Temple
Besakih Temple is located at the foot of Mount Agung, the highest mountain on the island of Bali. This volcano erupted in 1963, killed thousands of people in Bali, and devastated several areas in Karangasem Regency. Furthermore, Besakih Temple is located in Besakih Village, Rendang District, and Karangasem Regency. We must travel 2 hours to get to this temple from Denpasar City.
Of course, because of its location in this mountainous area, this temple always has cool temperatures during the day and cold temperatures at night. Sometimes, fog covers the entire scope of this temple. The area is tranquil, the air is superb, and the beautiful scenery makes this an ideal place for meditation.
The Besakih Temple Ceremony Becomes an Interesting Tourist Place to Visit
The Hindu ceremony at Besakih Temple is a unique ritual to see. This is a tourist attraction that you should not miss when visiting Bali. You will see that Hindus throughout Bali flock to worship their ancestors at this temple. In addition, you can find a series of unique ceremonies with classical dances. However, every tourist who wants to visit this place must follow the rules of the Besakih temple. These regulations include paying for entrance tickets, using the services of local guides, and wearing sarongs.
Meanwhile, the arrangement of this temple area has experienced significant progress. The Indonesian government has built public facilities such as parking, access, and shuttle buses. All of that aims to provide comfort for Hindus and tourists when visiting. President Jokowi also inaugurated this facility last month.