Bali. X-Day

When I found out that the Balinese celebrate a birthday in a total of three times a year - twice the local traditions and one on the common - this news has put me in enthusiastically - idiotic state. As many as three festivals on one occasion! However, when I first visited on his birthday, Balinese husband, came to the place of delights meditative observation: I understand that the basis and this celebration - a prayer, and thus, a party in the company of friends is postponed indefinitely. Well, apparently, over the life of the Balinese and their ceremonies have learned to squeeze in - Balinese "rampant" fun - just watch them during the preparation of a ceremony. Thus, the Balinese birthday is celebrated twice a year. With the date of the holiday every time - floating. Remains unchanged for a day of the week, when a celebration is held. Many of us know what day of the week we were born? But for the Balinese is paramount: on it depends a great deal, including - harmony in the family. Get at least understanding husband and wife. Balinese believe that if a man born before his wife on weekdays (for example, Thursday vs. Friday), then in such a family woman will not command the husband and family to preserve traditional balance. But as they say, Blessed is he who believes will not once again put into question the fact, incurred the wrath of heaven. Bali's birthday traditionally begins with a prayer. Actually, it is about ends, of it consists of. The concept of all these festivities is one. I'll tell you how to celebrate his birthday recently, my husband. On this day, the role of priest undertook mom birthday. From early morning, she made all sorts of offerings, leaving them in a room of the house. In solitude she sat on the basket with the gifts of the gods, reading prayers, and in a series of nice - gurgling sounds familiar to me was just the name of her husband. By the way, the prayer of the Balinese proceed only vymyvshis and dressed in clean clothes. When I start to protest, noting that just took a shower - in the morning, I usually give an analogy with a man who goes to an important meeting. The analogy works, and I immediately think of how much time I spend on fees before an important event. So it turns out that the prayer for the Balinese - a daily important meeting, a meeting with God. Later, the mother joined the birthday boy himself. Furthermore, in fact, prayer ceremony escorted symbolic act aimed at the expulsion of evils and purification of the soul and body (similar to those that spend during Balinese wedding ceremony). During the prayer clasped hands rises above his head. This ritual is repeated five times. The first time his hands are empty - the Balinese pray for his soul, because the body is mortal, the soul is eternal and the body lives as long as it lives the soul. The ritual is aimed at cleansing the body and soul. During the second prayer, his hands raised up with white flower - a tribute to God of the sun. On the third occasion in the hands of three flowers of different colors - this is a prayer to God Almighty. For the fourth time - three flowers, a prayer about their desires. The first three times the colors are participating in prayer, thrown carelessly on the ground motion, whereas the fourth time they laid his ear. Last, the fifth prayer is performed again with empty hands. Completes the ritual mantra "Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti Om" Let us arrive peace and harmony. At the end of the prayer the priest (in our case - mom) offers a birthday holy water and raw rice to stick it on his forehead - a symbol of longevity, happiness and closeness to God. Then the smoke from the incense to fit your hands to yourself, that symbolizes the cleansing and passed the entry into a new cycle of life and direction to a flow of positive energy and positive well wishes. Now, I think, has become somewhat clearer, from behind the ear with Balinese flowers appear, and on the forehead and temples - risinki. It's amazing how varied may be offering, as well as how much time and effort to take their training. No wonder they say that 80% of Balinese life spent on preparations for the ceremonies, rituals and cleaning themselves after. Flower baskets used in the form of daily offerings, and observed everywhere on the island are an inherent part, or more serious festive rituals, which are held once or twice a year. These baskets (except flowers there may also be symbols of everyday life - rice, candy, cookies and even cigarettes and fried potatoes from McDonald's), some do it themselves, but usually buy them already prepared. It is believed that one should be very careful not to step on offerings, as it is disrespectful to the higher powers. Though, I admit, I often saw how locals are stepping on the basket and passed with a deadpan look. I've always wondered, do all the dishes used for gifts - fruit and sweets - scrap. Certainly not: in Bali do not do anything just like that, and the end of any ceremony - a feast for all the village kids, the opportunity to leave with pockets full of every delicious stuff. By the way, my husband noticed that - that taste of fruit, after they have visited offerings, quite wrong. Perhaps someone - it considers it an exaggeration, but to me, far from the Balinese mysticism and superstition, it often seems that the fruits after the offerings have "wrong" even if you eat them an hour after the ceremony, they are not as juicy and flavorful. May be true, this god and the spirits tasted the gifts, and they have lost all their juices! For each of us a birthday - is, first of all, congratulations and gifts. And most importantly, everyone should know that today is your birthday, but otherwise a holiday not a holiday. In the Balinese also, traditionally, all the way around. No gifts and no publicity. On the contrary, it is desirable that the Balinese day of your birth was kept a secret - no friends or neighbors, but close, very close relatives. Balinese believe that by opening all the important date, you become vulnerable to the actions of black magicians. Such people can bring damage, illness, even death. Another proof of how closely intertwined in the insular culture of religion and the occult. Anastasia Maslova