If you visited my uncle's house that day, you might assume an art performance was being held there. How could you not? At Bale Daja (North Pavilion), a Wayang Lemah performance is accompanied by Sekaa Gender. Sekaa Gong has been playing since earlier. To the right of the Sekaa Gong location, you can see 2 masked dancers getting ready to put on costumes before dancing. To the east, precisely in front of the sanggah (family temple), a group of girls wearing white and yellow costumes were dancing solemnly.
I wasn't there to watch an art performance. I was there attending the Dewa Yadnya religious ceremony, which was being held by my uncle.
The aroma of sandalwood incense and agarwood wafted throughout the house. The chanting of sacred hymns, accompanying the ringing of bells and the puja mantra from Ida Pedanda in the central courtyard, sounded complementary. Even though the heat was getting hotter, and beads of sweat had started to appear on my forehead, it didn't reduce the solemn atmosphere that was going on.
The girls in white and yellow costumes and special decorations on their heads were dancing a sacred dance. Rejang Dewa - a dance that is only danced by little girls who have not reached puberty and are still pure. A sacred dance that is only performed during religious ceremonies to welcome the arrival of the gods during the ceremony.
They danced gently; their eyes seemed focused, with a faint smile occasionally appearing on their small lips. Even though they are still very young, they don't seem nervous at all when dancing. It was as if their bodies moved by themselves to the rhythm of the gamelan that accompanied their dance. The dance movements are simple, soft and repetitive, accompanied by the Semar Pengulingan gamelan, creating a solemn and peaceful atmosphere throughout the ceremony procession.
Rejang Dewa comes from the word Rejang, which means offering or welcoming and Dewa (God). A dance that symbolizes welcome, gratitude and respect for the Gods. This dance is only performed during the Dewa Yadnya religious ceremony, so it is not a dance performance or entertainment.
When the dance ended, no one clapped. An offering has just been completed.
Tourists often visit Bali to watch beautiful dance performances. However, the most meaningful dances are found far away from the stage and the applause of the audience. They are found in temples or when religious ceremonies are being carried out. It comes from the intention of "Ngayah", or sincere devotion from within the heart.
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Jika kamu mengunjungi rumah pamanku padda hari itu, mungkin kamu akan menganggap bahwa disana sedang diadakan pertunjukan seni. Bagaimana tidak, di Bale Daja sedang ada pertunjukan Wayang Lemah diiringi oleh Sekaa Gender. Sekaa Gong sudah menabuh sejak tadi. Di sebelah kanan dari lokasi sekaa gong, tampak 2 orang penari topeng sedang bersiap-siap memakai kostum sebelum menari. Di sebelah timur, tepatnya di depan sanggah, sekelompok anak-anak perempuan memakai kostum putih-kuning sedang menari dengan khusyuk.
Aku disana bukan untuk menyaksikan sebuah pementasan seni. Aku disana sedang menghadiri upacara keagamaan Dewa Yadnya yang sedang diselenggarakan oleh pamanku.
Aroma dupa cendana dan gaharu tercium di seluruh rumah. Lantunan kidung suci, menemani denting suara genta dan puja mantra dari Ida Pedanda di halaman tengah terdengar saling melengkapi. Meskipun panas semakin terik, dan butir-butir keringat sudah mulai muncul membasahi keningku, tak mengurangi suasana khitmad yang sedang berlangsung.
Para anak-anak perempuan dengan kostum putih-kuning dan hiasan khusus di kepalanya itu sedang menarikan sebuah tarian sakral. Rejang Dewa - sebuah tarian yang hanya ditarikan oleh mereka gadis-gadis kecil yang belum akil baligh dan masih suci. Sebuah tarian sakral yang hanya dipentaskan saat ada upacara agama untuk menyambut kedatangan para dewa saat upacara berlangsung.
Mereka menari dengan lembut, matanya tampak fokus dengan senyum tipis sesekali terlihat dari bibir kecilnya. Meskipun usia mereka masih sangat muda, sama sekali tak tampak rasa gugup saat menari. Seolah tubuh mereka bergerak dengan sendirinya mengikuti irama gambelan yang mengiringi tarian mereka. Gerakan tarinya sederhana, lembut dan berulang dengan diiringi gambelan Semar Pengulingan menciptakan suasana yang khusyuk, dan damai sepanjang prosesi upacara.
Rejang Dewa berasal dari kata Rejang yang berarti persembahan atau penyambutan dan Dewa (God). Sebuah tarian yang melambangkan penyambutan, rasa sukur dan penghormatan untuk para Dewa. Tarian ini hanya dipentaskan saat ada upacara keagamaan Dewa Yadnya, jadi ini bukanlah sebuah tarian pertunjukan atau hiburan.
Saat tarian berakhir, tak ada yang bertepuk tangan. Sebuah persembahan baru saja terlengkapi.
Para turis seringkali berkunjung ke Bali untuk menyaksikan pertunjukan tari yang indah. Namun, tarian yang paling penuh makna ditemukan jauh dari dari panggung dna tepuk tangan penonton. Ia ditemukan di pura atau saat upacara keagamaan sedang dilaksanakan. Berasal dari niat “Ngayah” atau pengabdian yang tulus dari dalam hati.
Note:
This post was made in Indonesian and translated into English with the help of Google Translate.
All pictures were taken with my cellphone.
