Saraswati Day, 7 June 2008, Saturday

In Bali, they have days to do tribute to the many things they rely on, for livelihood or the elements that enrich their lives. They have days where they will make offerings to animals (Tumpek Kandang) , to plants (Tumpek Uduh), to instruments used in Wayang Kulit, or the traditional shadow puppet performances (Tumpek Wayang), and to things sharp (Tumpek Landep, for knives, computers cos they…errr… “keep the mind sharp” and even vehicles, don’t know how that came about though)

On this day, it is Saraswati Day! It’s sorta like our day isn’t it? This is the day to make offerings to lontars (traditional ‘books’ made of palm) and books, the stuff of wisdom.



All educational institutions will, on this day, have ceremonies conducted at their premises, to pray, to clear away obstacles and to make offerings.



In completing the ceremony, the pupils of class 6 (they’ll be graduating this month! Graduation ceremony on 13 June, wait for our entry on that ☺) pray on behalf of all the students.


Thus, as of today, the library we have been building is, I would say, spiritually open! We join the school in Samu (where our library is built) for the ceremony. Bantens and canangs (offerings of food or symbols) are offered in the school and the library, and is blessed by Dewi Saraswati.



So now, almost all are in place for the official opening of the library, except that many of the books we’ve ordered have not come in from the factory in Surabaya…in a few days time they’ll be here, we’ve been told, but we know, it’s always…just maybe…