A Unique Kissing Ritual in Bali called Omed-Omedan

A day after Nyepi Day, the Balinese Hindu hold a kissing ceremony called Omed-omedan. The tradition held by the people of Banjar Kaja, in Denpasar. Participants for this unique tourism attraction are men and girls who have certain condition. Kissing hysteria in “Omed-Omedan” tradition at Banjar Kaja, is welcomed enthusiastically by thousand of local people as well as domestic and foreign tourists.

Omed-omedan is firstly intended as a media for the villagers to know and meet each other. In this tradition no one should have hate, they should respect and caring for others. Omed-omedan come from ‘omed’ meant pull. Many people outside Banjar Kaja often call omed-omedan with med-medan. “Actually, this tradition was held on Nyepi day,” said I Wayan Sunarya, Kelian Adat (Head of Banjar) Banjar Kaja. In the bygone days, Raja Puri Oka, authority of Sesetan village, was sick. He was still sick until Nyepi but the teenagers of Banjar Kaja were bored staying in home during the silence day. So, they went out gathered together. They played and chatted noisily that Raja Puri Oka was disturbed. Raja Puri Oka felt angry and commanded them to get in their house. But a miracle happened. Raja Puri Oka got well and became really healthy. Since that day, Raja Puri Oka told Banjar Kaja’s teenagers to do ‘omed-omedan’ in Nyepi Day.

If you see The omed – omedan ritual from the very beginning then you will see an old men from Banjar Kaja sprinkle the road. A moment later, while the members of sekaa teruna teruni Satya Dharma Kerti (youth organization; in Banjar Kaja, its youth organization is named Satya Dharma Kerti) was praying, a Barong dance was held. After the praying and dancing session was over, the core of this ritual came.

The teenagers came out to the road. The boys were in left and the girls were in right. They were wetted by the adult ones. Balinese gambelan (traditional instrument) were played. The boys chose one of their members, so did the girls. Those chosen people were pushed by the others. “Omed-omedan” was started. They pushed his and her waist. Gambelan player played another tune, more and more beat. They pushed their own member until the chosen ones met in the middle of the road, and both of the chosen embraced and kissed each other.

However, the girls were so shy to do this ritual in public that the girls sometimes avoid the embraces and kisses. It was a totally different story for the boys. They were excited to embrace and kiss the girls. Moreover, there was a boy took a minute longer to do that. For that reason the old men sprinkled them with so water. Then the chosen were pulled back to their position by the others. Those push and pull were done for several times with different chosen people. Chosen people attracted more audiences to scream and push the others because they want to see from closer distance the audiences which passed the border were also sprinkled.

This tradition attracted teen audiences to join it. A girl from audiences came in to the girls’ position, wanted to join omed-omedan. Unluckily, she was rejecteded. Indeed, the outsiders were not allowed to join. “ Omed-omedan only for our teenagers,” said Kelian Adat (Leader of Banjar) Banjar Kaja, I Wayan Sunarya firmly. Well, what is the reason to do this tradition every year? And is it possible because of omed-omedan, a boy and a girl falling in love then get married? Find the answers out on the next posting.

On that day, many parents hope their teenagers will get a mate trough this omed-omedan. Suprisingly, in this Banjar, there are some couples which started their relationships from omed-omedan. “So I prove it,” said Sunarya. He did not feel anything to Ni Putu Yarniathi before omed-omedan. They were a friend. “But I don’t know after omed-omedan ‘that’ feeling came,” he recalled. They got marriage and this year their marriage reach 30 years. “I am very happy, now I have three children and many grandsons,” he said. Whoo… so romantic isn’t it?. Unfortunately, for those who are not the member of Banjar Kaja are not allowed joining this tradition, except as audiences.

This tradition that is interesting attraction for tourism in Bali may only be followed by teruna and teruni (man and girl) which is still single and about 15 years old. This tradition is not a sacred tradition like most of the other rituals in Bali. However this tradition is so intersting and so entertaining.

Wanna come and see? Then be ready next year and don’t for get to protect your electronic devices because u might be sprinkled by the water ;)

source: wikipedia, balinewsonline.com, blog.baliwww.com, discover-indonesia.com

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