Cremation Ceremony of Anak Agung Niyang Rai

On Thursday, the 18th of August 2011, will be held the Pelebon ceremony of Anak Agung Niang Rai of Puri Agung Ubud. She is the wife of Tjokorda Gde Agung Sukawati (1910-1978), penglingsir (head of royal family) of Puri Agung Ubud since 1931 until 1978 and widely known as “the King of Ubud”.
Anak Agung Niang Rai is also the mother of Tjokorda Gde Putra Sukawati (Tjok Putra), Tjokorda Gde Oka AA Sukawati (Tjok Ace) and Tjokorda Gde Raka Sukawati (Tjok De). She also has five grandsons from these three sons.
Anak Agung Niang Rai was born in Bungbungan village, a village located in Klungkung regency of Bali around 1930. She married Tjokorda Gde Agung Sukawati of Puri Agung Ubud in January 1955.
Anak Agung Niang Rai then lived in Puri Agung Ubud and always accompanied her husband in serving the community. Tjokorda Agung was one of the most important figures in the history of Ubud. During his throne at Puri Agung Ubud, he pioneered the development of Ubud and it has made Ubud eventually became widely known as one of the art-cultural centers and a leading tourist area in Bali.
Anak Agung Niang Rai passed away at her age of 80s on Saturday the 14th of May 2011 (based on the Balinese calendar, the days was Saniscara Paing Wuku Ukir) at 8:15am. Her body then being lied down at Puri Agung Ubud. The Pelebon ceremony will be held on Thursday the 18th of August 2011 (Wraspati Pon Wuku Krulut). Thursday the 18th of August 2011 (Wraspati Pon Wuku Krulut).
The Pelebon ceremony or also known as a Ngaben (cremation) ceremony is one of the most famous Hindu-Balinese traditional-religious ceremonies. This ceremony is a form of respect from the families and local communities to Anak Agung Niang Rai.
Even though the ceremony is a cremation for the dead, but the atmosphere is always alive. Besides being a religious ceremony, the Pelebon ceremony also has become one of the most famous tourist attractions in Bali.
Pelebon ceremony is a ceremony to purify and return the elements of Panca Maha Butha (five elements of the universe that form the life) in human body (Bhuana Alit, the micro-cosmos) to the universe (Bhuana Agung, the macro-cosmos). The elements of Panca Maha Butha in the human body are:
• Pertiwi (the earth, solid matters): like the flesh, bones and teeth.
• Apah (the water): like the blood, tears, saliva and mucus.
• Teja (the light): like the aura and the light of eyes.
• Bayu (the air, the wind): like breathe and energy.
• Akasa (the space): the abstract elements (the ether) in human body.

Pelebon ceremony is a Hindu-Balinese traditional-religious ceremony which had been held since centuries ago and still survived until now in the midst of changing times. In this ceremony we also can see the togetherness among the Puri Agung Ubud and the community, and among community members.
The body will depart the Puri Agung Ubud at around 12:30 pm. The body will be taken by a Bade (a cremation tower) with nine storeys and it is as high as 25 meters, accompanied by a 7.5 meters-high Lembu (a giant sarcophagus bull) and others Pelebon ceremony paraphernalia into the cremation location at the Dalem Puri Temple in Peliatan which is about 900 meters to the east of Puri Agung Ubud. The procession of this cremation ceremony is expected to finish at around 5 pm.

Ubud - Top city in Asia

Top city in Asia

Ubud - November 2009 voted as Top City in Asia by Condenast Traveler Magazine.

One of the most prestigous award has been awarded to Ubud based on a readers polling made by Condenast Traveler Magazine.

A celebration to celebrate this success will be conducted on January 30th 2010 at Ubud Palace.

IBMF 2009

1st International Bali Meditate Festival - in Ubud

Ubud as a relaxation, healing and spiritual destination, again choosen as a venue to landmark the 1st International Bali Meditate Festival today on 13 November 2009

Time and venue
The festival will be held on the 14 - 15 of November 2009
(09.00 - 21.00 Bli time)

Marketplace (Bazaar)

Astina Field (soccer field)
- Jl. Monkey forest, Ubud - Bali

Seminar session and night performane
Sjaki - Tari - Us
- Eastern part of the soccer field, Jl. MOnkey Forest Ubud - Bali

Bale Banjar Ubud Kelod
- Jl. MOnkey Forest Ubud - Bali

For more information please visit http://www.balimeditates.org/

5th UHA anniversarry

Ubud Hotels Association promotes Ubud as a Green Destination

Ubud Bali, August 20, 2009 - Ubud Hotels Association (UHA) is promoting Ubud as a green destination with a series of charitable and environmental activities, as well as hosting a seminar.

Ubud Hotels Association is a non - profit and non-governmnet organization comprised primarily of hoteliers and allied members who actively service the hospitality industry.

Details of activities done and will be done as follows:
- Humanity charity visit to Smile Foundation (yayasan senyum) on August 28, 2009
- Tree planting on the area of Greenery of Taro village on September 1, 2009
- Clean up the world within Ubud area on September 4, 2009
- A Management Seminar by Rhenald Kazali and Anand Krisna on September 8, 2009
- A devotion night with a cocktail party involving all members, other NGO's and Government (will take place at The Royal Pita Maha Ubud - Bali)

The Lounge at Pita Maha Ubud

To accommodate the client needs and to celebrate the Christmast and New Year 2009, Pita Maha Resort & Spa proudly present a new kind of hospitality in the area of this relaxing resort.

A very unique concept of relaxation collaborated with a high taste of hospitality has become the inspiration of THE LOUNGE at Pita Maha.

Officially launched and opened by The Royal Family of Ubud, THE LOUNGE at Pita Maha has become the only one resort in Ubud which is has its own private high end bar.

Do have a visit and experience a different style of private escape.

Happy New Year 2009

A never ending tragedy for Bali Tourism Industry

2009, the most unpredictable year for all ... hard and dark.
Nothing have to be worry about actually, just face it, live must go on.

Happy New Year 2009
From nothing to something

The Ceremonial Cockfighting

The Ceremonial Cockfighting

Bali, known as one of world most wondering island store a million of unusual attraction. There is one that very important but sound not usual, it is the CEREMONIAL COCKFIGHTING.

In a village, named KELUSA VILLAGE / DESA KELUSA, held in every 210 days "every six months" according to Balinese Calendar, the ceremony taking place in a big temple call PURA HYANG API. It is about 10 minutes driving from Ubud.

On these days, hundreds or perhaps thousand of people come with their own well treated cock comes to do the little sacred but full of meaning activities. In Bali Hindu religion, cockfighting has a deep purpose of sacrifice, especially when one of the cock dripping their blood onto the ground. It is symbolizing the holiest purification ceremony to the universe.

All above activities are always done by men, meanwhile the woman will come to the temple with offering.

Below are the dates of COCKFIGHTING this year:
- August 30th 2008 - opening day ( same day with Kuningan day )
- August 31st 2008
- Sept. 1st 2008
- Sept. 2nd 2008
- Sept. 3rd 2008
- Sept. 4th 2008
- Sept. 9th 2008
- Sept. 14th 2008
- Sept. 19th 2008
- Sept. 24th 2008
- Sept. 29th 2008
- Oct. 4th 2008 - closing ceremony

Time start at 5am - finish

What to wear:
- Balinese dress

Restriction:
- No flash allowed when making photos or videos