Ida Bhatara Meyab, The Tradition of Asking for Grace Agricultural Fertility in Tiying Tali Village

Various very unique cultural traditions are held in Tiying Tali Village which coincides with Abang District, Karangasem Regency. This village has a tradition that is classified as very unique and rarely found in other villages. One of these traditions is named Ida Bhatara Meyab or Jempana Meyab. The Ida Bhatara Meyab or Jempana Meyab tradition is not an event that is often seen every day, but is a moment that is highly anticipated by the local community. The people of this village celebrate this tradition with great enthusiasm and joy. This tradition is usually held twice a year, which coincides with the peak of the pujawali ceremony at Puncak Sari Temple which falls on the full moon of Kedasa and 2 days after the pujawali.

The Ida Bhatara Meyab tradition is an agrarian ceremony involving a tribute to Ida Bhatara by carrying a Jempana. Jempana is the residence of Ida Bhatara. The process of carrying the Jempana involves a group of temple administrators who have been specially prepared and highly dedicated to carry out their duties properly. Not only building the temple, but also involving active participation from the surrounding community.

Various age groups of people are present in this procession, from experienced adults to children. Most of the participants were men who enthusiastically helped raise this Jempana as a form of respect and community cohesiveness in maintaining this valuable tradition. In this ceremony, a Jempana decorated with Balinese knick-knacks and ornaments is used as the center of attention.

The Jempana Meyab tradition, which is the core of this celebration, is accompanied by the Gamelan Baleganjur game, filling the entire area around the agricultural land of the Tiying Tali Village community. This very special procession reaches its peak when it reaches a location in a lake, which is called Telaga Beteng, which is also known as Telaga Bidadari.

Telaga Beteng, which is located in the middle of a village agricultural environment, has unique characteristics because its water never recedes and continues to flow, giving life to the surrounding agricultural land. In this place, Ida Sesuhunan, a deity revered in this tradition, celebrates with great happiness and joy, often with actions such as jumping in the puddles and swamps of Telaga Beteng.

Tradition of Ida Bhatara Meyab (Photo Source: editorial collection)

Aside from being the highlight of the celebration, this tradition also has a very important purpose, namely to invoke grace and express the people's gratitude for the fertility they enjoy in agriculture. This fertility is the main pillar in the life of the people of Tiying Tali Village, and this tradition is a concrete manifestation of their solidarity and gratitude to nature and the gods who protect and give blessings to their agriculture.

In the Procession of Ida Bhatara Meyab's route, loyal followers of this tradition follow a path that is completely dependent on the instructions from Ida Sesuhunan's will, without any predictions that can be made beforehand. A deep belief colors the local community that when their agricultural land is stepped on by the holy procession of Ida Bhatara Meyab, nature's blessings will descend and the crops on the land will thrive and be abundant. This reflects their strong belief in the spiritual and symbolic power of this tradition in supporting sustainable agriculture and the welfare of the people in Tiying Tali Village, who are heavily dependent on their agricultural output.

The Ida Bhatara Meyab tradition is not just a ceremony, but is also a core element of the rich and valuable cultural heritage of the people of Tiying Tali Village. This tradition not only enriches their cultural identity, but also becomes a solid foundation for their lives, creating a close connection between spirituality, nature and agricultural sustainability. This tradition is a real expression of their togetherness and respect for the environment and their belief in maintaining the welfare of the community through fertile agriculture.