Gianyar – The Tumpek Kandang day, a ceremony to respecting animals in Bali, was held on Saturday (5/12/20). One of the zoo was at Bali Safari Park, Gianyar. This is the second celebration during COVID-19 Pandemic. The park staffs performed prayers with a strict health protocols. “We try to highlight Balinese traditions, such as a ceremony every 6 months with the animals,” said Thomas Colbert, General Manager of Bali Safari Park.
Some of the animals that took part in the procession were orangutans, snakes, iguanas, and various types of birds. They were deliberately sprinkled with holy water and prayed for it to remain sustainable for the future. These animals are accompanied by 5 keepers. They still maintain a distance between each other. Even so, the procession went quite smoothly and solemnly.
Throught Tumpek Kandang procession, Bali Safari Parks staffs hoping the COVID-19 Pandemic could end as soon as possible. They also pray for the the condition of tourism in Bali and Indonesia in general, hopefully it could rise and return to normal in 2021.
In Balinese Hindu belief, rainan (holy day-red) Tumpek Kandang or Tumpek Uye is a day of salvation for pets (animals in cages) which is celebrated once every 210 days. In this month, the celebration was held on Saturday (Saniscara) Kliwon Wuku Uye. “Essentially, Tumpek Kandang teaches how human can pay respect and love for all God’s creature,” said said I Nengah Dwija, scholar at the Hindu Negri University I Gusti Bagus Sugriwa.
Tumpek Kandang celebration was aimed at animals that helped human work such as cattle. “As an agricultural area, at first this ceremony was aimed at animals that helped a lot in agriculture or animal husbandry, although now other animals such as pets are also being celebrated,” he said.
This momentum also being a reminder for human with the existence of Tri Guna, the three elements of human nature. This is consist of Satwam (peaceful), Rajas (the nature of ambition), and Tamas (lazy).
“The two parts of Tri Guna, namely Rajas and Tamas, are the characteristics that exist in animals, so in Tumpek Kandang we pray to the God to keep those two traits away from us humans so only Satwan (peaceful) character develops,” he stated. (Kanalbali/WIB)
