The natural environment is now suffering increasing damage due
to uncompromisingly excessive exploitation. For Bali people, conserving
the environment forms part of their religious duties according
to Hindu religion. They translate the
dedication to environmental conservation not only by acting but
also with ceremonies to honor the natural environment such as
tumpuk bubuh, alternatively called tumpek pengarah, tumpek pengatag
or tumpek wariga.
At the break of dawn, they commence the ceremony by conducting
offering ceremonies in their backyard or places full with
trees.
At the center of the intended places a bamboo structure (asagan)
is erected to place the offering upon. Children help arrange
the offerings and protect them from pets. Following the preparations,
they sit with the knees folded back, left hands holding incense
sticks that send out smoke and spread fragrance and right-hand
fingers clasping flowers.
They start the offering ceremony for God in His manifestation
as the god “Sangkara”, the ruler of floral domain.
Prayers are uttered and accompanied with the sprinkling of
holy water. Then come the offering of cereals to be slipped
into tree backs, beginning with the coconut tree.
The bark in torn a bit to make some space to put the cereal
into and the following mantra is solemnly uttered: “Dadong
dadong, I kaki nak dija? I kaki ya jumah! Anak ngudyang jumah?
I kaki anak gelem! Gelem kenken? Gelem nged! Nah ne bubuh
bang I Kaki, nged, nged, nged!”
This is the way the Balinese Hindus conduct the Tumpek Bubuh
ceremony, which falls on the date known as Saniscara (Saturday)
Kliwon Wariga, once every 210 days, according to Bali
calender. Those with many profitable trees such us coconut,
coffee, clove and the like, will adorn their offering dishes with
roasted pig.
Tumpuk Bubuh begins the series of Galungan religious ceremonies
that represents respect to the earth. It is conducted 35 days
(or a month according to Balinese calendar)
a head of the Galungan ceremony. Tumpek bubuh constitutes an expression
of gratitude to God as the ruler of the floral domain, also the
wish for God to always bestow fertility. The word nged denotes
profusion of yields expected from the trees, to be used later
during the Galungan ceremony and to satisfy daily need.
The thriving growth of the plant is the key to human survival
on the earth. The organization of the Tumpek Bubuh ceremony
thereby embodies the religious values targeted at environmental
conservation and the universe. The ceremony might also draw
more and better concern for the natural environment and ecological
issues. Viable and preserved ecosystem and ensures sustainability;
otherwise, terrestrial life will face extinction.
