We cordially extend to you a very special invitation to a sacred event more than 350 years in the making, a real ‘once in a lifetime experience’.

Save the date! TUESDAY, February 22 . 2022  at Puri Anyar Kerambitan

Presenting the 350 year old Balinese Royal ”Lontar” manuscripts of Puri Anyar Kerambitan, holding the ancient texts of wisdom and power from our ancestors.

For the first time in the current generation of Kerambitan, these manuscripts will be unveiled and opened for review, and made available for our special guests and relatives.

For your consideration they will be digitized into Bahasa and English. 

•  •  •

Lontar: Bali’s Palm-Leaf Manuscripts.

The Lontar tradition in Bali was developed over a thousand years ago from a cultural perspective reinforcing Balinese society as something sacred and religious Lontar is a literary artefact that has shaped the Balinese culture we know today. Not just any literature, it’s viewed as the island’s intellectual property to which the Balinese turn to for life lessons, philosophies, medicine, state and more.

Since the olden days, the Balinese would turn to this literature when in search of a spiritual progression but also regarding the humdrum of everyday life, such as gardening or parenting.

Bali’s wealth of culture was inherited from generations upon generations and is strongly preserved as a way to respect their ancestors and their teachings of life. Some may call it intellectual property, others see it as a cultural product; but the collective belief of lontar is that it’s a medium that keeps ancient traditions alive and preserved amidst globalisation, and other worldly shifts.

The Balinese adhere to the teachings on the manuscripts, as they believe that it bears taksu (divine power). They also believe lontar to be a vehicle for Sang Hyang Aji Saraswati, namely the manifestation of Ida Sang Hyang Widi (God) as a source of knowledge. Once every six months, to coincide with the Balinese calendar on a Saturday, they celebrate Kliwon Wuku Watugunung, a ‘lontar’ ceremony in honour of the goddess of knowledge, Saraswati.

Why it is very special to us?

We as the young generations since around 200 years ago never knew what the content of our Lontar was.  We are really looking forward to discovering and sharing with you what our ancestors have written through the Lontar to guide our young generation now and into the future.  

•  •  •

Donation fee: IDR 1.400.000 ($100 USD) 
Including traditional welcome drink and signature cocktail, ceremonial lunch and a very special ‘Sanghyang Jaran’ trance dance performance.

*Proceeds will go towards the restoration of one of the sacred pavilions at Puri Anyar Kerambitan

Program: 

• 10 am 
  • Arrival at the Palace
  • Special welcoming by Puri Anyar Kerambitan flower girls
• 10:30 am 
  • Take a seat at the inner courtyard of Puri Anyar Kerambitan
  • Traditional Herbal Welcome drinks 
  • Welcome speech and presentation about the tradition of Balinese ‘Lontar’ manuscripts
• 11 am 
  • Procession of the Lontar Manuscripts to a special place where the reviewing will take place 
• 1 pm 
  • Balinese cuisine luncheon with traditional signature dishes from Puri Anyar Kerambitan recipes
• 2 pm 
  • ‘Sanghyang Jaran’ trance dance performance
• 3 pm
  • Closing