Ngaben ceremony, a Hindu cremation ritual in Bali. A journey into the next life

Ngaben ceremony in Bali. Image: nandhika.wordpress.com

Something that is certain in life is death. If you believe, then you have signed a contract with the Creator, God Almighty, which has determined the date and time of your death. It's just that you never know when the crucial moment it will happen, and you also do not know how you are going to leave this world.

For Hindus in Bali, a person's death is not the end of a person's life, because you will continue the journey to the next life. If you have never sinned, or perhaps a virtue you, and virtue (Dharma) you, more than sin (adharma) you all your life, then you will meet God the Merciful in Swarga Loka (Heaven), even you will united with God.

However, you were also believe, that you are never infallible, even you must have committed a sin, no matter how small your sins, you surely never committed a sin. That's why the family left behind by the deceased person, if you are a Hindu in Bali, then your offspring, or your family will host an important ceremony, a ritual called Ngaben or Pelebon.

In this video you will see when the cremation is done as part of a Ngaben ceremony in Bali. I hope you are inspired, that death is not the end of your life, but the beginning of a journey to the next life into a beautiful paradise.

This ceremony is the last ceremony in your life, in addition to a variety of "Yadnya" or ritual that you have been followed ever since you were born for example otonan (Birthday of the Balinese calendar system), wedding ceremonies and other important ceremonies. Ngaben is part of Pitra Yadnya, a ceremony for those who have died in the belief of Hinduism in Bali. The purpose of this ceremony is to deliver the dead so that a smooth journey to Swarga Loka (Heaven) to unite with Almighty Creator.

Ngaben is a very unique ritual that you find on the Hindu community in Bali, and could be said to be more complicated than Hindus in India, Nepal or Hindus in other countries. Ngaben ceremony in Bali will begin with a parade, which is wonderful because coupled with the accompaniment of the family, the friends, relatives, colleagues, people around who knew you when you live.

In addition, there are Balinese gamelan will follow the journey of the bodies of deceased family home to Setra (cemetery). The parade is made so beautiful, so it seems there is no grief from family or friends. There is a teaching in Hinduism in Bali, that basically there should be no tears or sadness of the family, so that the soul's journey will be smooth, without any hindrance.

In Hindu religious beliefs, there are several options when the soul (Atma) arrives in heaven, which is the Atma will be punished in Hell for sins long as they live in the world (Mayapada). If you do good or virtue or dharma while you're still alive, then you will get a beautiful Swarga Loka (Heaven). At one point the Atma may be down to the mortal world, and the Atma or soul will be reborn or reincarnated as a new human being, may be reborn as a son or daughter of your family.

Life after death is a certainty, that belief in Hinduism or any other faith. Because that Ngaben can be said as a celebration for a new life. Are you interested to watch this unique ceremony? If your vacation to Bali, perhaps you will be lucky to witness sequence of ritual of Ngaben in Bali, the Last Paradise.