TUMPEK is one of the Hindu celebrations as an expression of love and gratitude which falls every 210 days to be exact on Saturday Kliwon in the wukus (seven-day week) such as Landep, Wariga, Kuningan, Krulut, Uye and Wayang. This celebration is based on pawukon calendar.
Tumpek Wariga, for example, is a celebration dedicated to nature, especially plants or flora that have supported the survival of human life. Tumpek Wariga is also known as Tumpek Pengarah, Tumpek Pengatag and Tumpek Bubuh.
In accordance with one of the points of the Panca Srada (five basic beliefs), namely ‘Believing in the existence of a Soul’ in all living beings including plants, Hindus also make offerings regularly every 210 days. They are also creatures who are both created by God and have the same right to live. The offering is aimed at the manifestation of God as the ruler of plants, namely Lord Shankara.
Meaning
The Tumpek Wariga celebration means how humans express their gratitude and care for nature through plants so that the oxygen and food needs of all living things can be fulfilled and can be carried out in a sustainable manner.
In line with the Bali government’s vision and mission, the Governor of Bali issued Instruction Number 06 of 2022 concerning the Celebration of Tumpek Wariga with the Wana Kerthi ceremony as the implementation of the Circular of the Governor of Bali Number 04/2022 concerning the Ways of Life of the Balinese People Based on the Values of Sad Kertih Local Wisdom in a New Era of Bali.
Broadly speaking, all leaders of vertical institutions throughout Bali, from the government at the Bali Province level to customary villages and families are encouraged to hold the celebration, including educational institutions, community organizations and private parties.
The Tumpek Wariga celebration falling on May 16, 2022 will be centered by the Provincial Government of Bali in the Forest Area of Baler Bale Agung Village, Jembrana.
Ceremony Procedure
Related to Niskala (spiritual realm) activities, it is carried out by offering five kinds of marrow porridge to all plants which refers to the literary source of Bhagawan Agastyaprana palm-leaf manuscript. The five porridges are:
- White rice porridge is given to plants that produce tubers that can be used as porridge, such as sweet potato, cassava, taro, and other tubers.
- Brown rice porridge is offered to plants that produce grains, such as rice and secondary crops, boiled corn, paddy corn or sorghum.
- Green marrow porridge (dracaena) is given to trees that bear fruit through pollination of pistil flowers, such as mango, longan, white mango, coconut, and others.
- Glutinous porridge (yellow color) is given to plants that bear fruit on the stem, such as jackfruit, durian, langsat, kepundung, and others.
- Black rice porridge is offered to plants that produce flowers and fragrant oils.
The celebration will begin with worship together in a holy place before Hyang Widhi Wasa (God) in his manifestation as Lord Shankara. After that, it is continued by applying the five colored porridges on the tree trunk by saying the following prayer:
“Kaki-kaki, Nini-nini, niki katuran bubuh mangda madon gembal, mabunga magambah, buin selae lemeng wenten upacara Galungan mangda mabunga miwah mabuah, ngeed… ngeed… ngeed…” (pat the tree for three times).
Literally, the Balinese prayer above contains the hope that the plants would thrive and bear fruit as ingredients for preparation for Galungan Day celebrations (25 days ahead). Then, the activities on a sekala (physical realm) are carried out by caring for and/or planting plants or plants in their respective environments.
Activities on the sekala level are carried out by planting thematic trees ritual and herbal plants as well as caring for, maintaining, tidying and fertilizing plants (all plants) in the Forest Area of Baler Bale Agung Village, Jembrana Regency. The activities of the Bali Provincial Government will be led directly by the Governor of Bali, and attended by a number of officials, such as the Chairman of the Bali House or Representatives, the Deputy Governor of Bali, and others.
