MORE FROM INDONESIA Earlier I wrote about the little offering baskets that everyone makes in their spare time out of young coconut leaf. (Not banana leaf). Anyway, one of the women at home in the compound fills many baskets with offerings to the spirits that reside in their space. They might have rice, candy, flowers, money, bead, cigarettes or anything a spirit might need. She would first go to the temple (did I mention they are open air with a low stone wall?) Dressed to the nines with sarong & sash, a traditional cutwork lace top, hair done up with flowers and bare feet the woman carries a tray with all the offerings: 20 sticks of burning incense & a bowl of holy water collected from the big local temple & blessed by the Big “Kahoona”. With one hand she reaches up to the empty chair and removes the old basket ....puts up the new one.....takes a leaf & dips it in the holy water & splashes some on the empty chair while saying a prayer....leave some incense.....Step down off the step & go to the entrance of the temple & leave an offering basket by the door after repeating all the same steps. She will do the same at the sidewalk out the front door of the compound & inside the door of the compound....maybe the kitchen if you need help cooking...outside the bedroom if you want to get lucky or not lucky.....probably the livestock & probably not the outhouse. This is to appease the spirits that surround you in your everyday life. May all your spirits be good.
Posted on: Thu, 20 Mar 2014 16:26:20 +0000
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