TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - As many as 2,000 Hindus from Jakarta, Bogor, Tangerang, and Bekasi, held ceremony in Dalam Temple, Cilincing, North Jakarta, on Saturday. The ceremony is a preparation to celebrate Nyepi, Saka New Year 1936 that falls on today.
"Happy Nyepi Day 1936," expressed North Jakarta Mayor Heru Budi Hartono, who attended the ceremony, as quoted by Antara News.
Meanwhile, Head of North Jakarta Hindu Darma Banjar Joy and Sorrow, I Putu Alit Ari Sudarsana, said that Melasti Ceremony is a purifying ceremony using Tirtha (holy water) in deep ocean which called Tirtha Kamandalu, that is believed can purify/wash negative things before celebrating Saka New Year 1936.
"To clean our self physically and mentally, clean the temple, and clean the universe," he uttered.
In the process of taking the holy water, two boats and twenty committee members were deployed to take the holy water from the middle of Marunda waters. After the ceremony is over, some of them were sent to Rawamangun Temple while some others sent to each region.
According to Head of Wiradarma Samudra Marinir Holy Castle Society, Gede Ngura Sudira, the Melasti Ceremony is continued with ceremony of Pecaruan Agung, Taur Pesange, on Sunday (3/30) to celebrate the implementation of Tapa Brata Penyepian. "Everything will be centered in Rawamangun Temple," he concluded.
ANTARA