Ngaben or the Cremation Ceremony
is the ritual performed to send the dead through the
transition to his next life. The village Kul Kul, hanging
in the tower of the village temple, will sound a certain
beat to announce the departure of the deceased. The
body of the deceased will be placed at Bale Delod, as
if he were sleeping, and the family will continue to
treat him as if he were still alive yet sleeping. No
tears are shed, for he is only gone temporarily and
he will reincarnate into the family.
The Priest consults the Dewasa to determine
the proper day for the ceremony. On the day of the ceremony,
the body of the deceased is placed inside a coffin which
is then placed inside a sarcophagus in the form of a
buffalo (called Lembu) or a temple structure called
Wadah made of paper and light wood. The Wadah will be
carried to the village cremation site in a procession.
The climax of Ngaben is the burning
of the Wadah, using fire originating from a holy source.
The deceased is sent to his afterlife, to be reincarnated
in the future.
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