- BANYU Pinaruh is a continuation of Saraswati Day or the worship of Goddess Saraswati as the goddess of knowledge
- The purificatory rite for the body, mind and spirit to water sources is carried out since the morning
On October 22, 2022, Hindus in Bali celebrate Saraswati Day. They worship Goddess Saraswati as the Goddess of Knowledge and learning. Educational institutions, government offices and the general public also individually perform the Saraswati pooja.
At their respective home, they perform rituals for books as a source of knowledge that has given color to a new life, free from darkness without the presence of knowledge. Well, the next day is called Banyu Pinaruh Day. Precisely, it falls on Sunday Wuku Sinta Paing.
This ritual is part of the tradition of Hindus in Bali where at this event they celebrate it by flocking to water sources to do purificatory rite such as rivers, lakes, beaches and others. Or there are also those who go to temples that have showers for melukat or self-purification such as Tirta Empul Temple in Tampaksiring, Gianyar.
This event begins with a simple ritual such as offering canangsari before the bathing session. The ritual begins at dawn before 6am in the morning just as the first rays of the sun begin to appear at the start of the pawukon New Year cycle. The first wuku in the pawukon calculation is Sinta and starts on Sunday lasting until Saturday.
This ritual aims to ask God to help eliminate the bad qualities inherent in the human body spiritually. Philosophically, this celebration also means that after getting enlightened in science, people also purify their soul, body and mind in order to get a new spirit and an abundance of inspiration in entering life in the next Pawukon year cycle.
People then plunge themselves into the water to wash their faces and then shower. After that, it is continued with the ‘kum-kuman’ ritual or flower bath which is washing with holy water scented with various flowers that have been purified by the priest at Griya or Brahmin house.
