Prapen, Heritage Site of Pande Ancestors in Tihingan Village

Since ancient times, indigenous Balinese people have developed a class classification system that identifies individuals based on their work. One example of this system is giving the first name "Pande" to those who devote themselves to metalworking or blacksmithing.

Blacksmiths, or what is known as Pande people, are widely recognized for their expertise in processing metal into finished items that are very useful in everyday life. Although many individuals are capable of carrying out this task, the deep-rooted belief in Balinese society is that the best and most meaningful results come from the hands of the Pande. Special works that symbolize their high craftsmanship often come from the Tihingan Traditional Village, a place known as a granary of inspiration for metal artists in Bali.

Tihingan Traditional Village is a village called "Pande's Heaven". Many Pande people live in this Traditional Village. In this modern era, Tihingan Traditional Village has been named the center for the production of gamelan musical instruments in Bali. Why is that? Most of the residents of Tihingan Traditional Village are Balinese natives from the Pande group, and most of them work as craftsmen of traditional Balinese musical instruments.

People from the Pande group are believed to have lived and settled since the time of the Gelgel Kingdom in Bali. This can be proven by the existence of an ancient site which is believed to be the legacy of the ancestors of the people in the Tihingan Traditional Village. The site is a circular hearth that is commonly used for smelting metal, the site is named "Prapen". The mention of the word "Prapen" is based on the words "perapian" which comes from Indonesian and "perapen" which comes from Balinese.

Fireplace at Prapen Site (Source: Private Collections)

The Prapen site is located in the Jaba Pura Dalem Silaparang area. "If I'm not mistaken, this site was discovered in 2004," said the Bendesa Traditional Village of Tihingan, I Gede Pandiyasa. He said that the discovery of this site occurred accidentally when the village team united (or could be said to be working together) with the ABRI group. At that time, the village and ABRI were leveling the land in the Jaba Pura Dalem Silaparang area. At that time, a round fireplace was found made of red brick and looked old.

People from the Tihingan Traditional Village also believe that this site is a legacy of their ancestors who were blacksmiths from the Pande group. This belief of the residents is further strengthened because the location of the fireplace is located in Jaba Pura Dalem Silaparang, where Pura Dalem Silaparang itself is located right near a river. Ancient blacksmiths generally built their workshops near a water source, which here was a river. Additionally, a modern fireplace is rarely built near a water source due to existing technology. The village people firmly believe that this site is truly a relic from the ancestors of the Tihingan Traditional Village.

Tihingan Traditional Village is an Anyar Traditional Village or traditional village which can be said to be a new traditional village. From the results of an interview with Mr. Pande I Gede Suadiyasa, who is the owner of the largest traditional musical instrument-making workshop in the Tihingan Traditional Village, Gong Tari, he said, "In the past we made equipment such as keris, but because of traditional needs we switched to making gamelan." From his narrative, the author has a strong assumption that the Pande people have indeed lived in the Tihingan Traditional Village for a long time. Making weapons, such as keris, is certainly not without reason for them to make weapons. It is possible (possible) that the village people were asked to make weapons because there was war at that time. He also said that if they switched to making musical instruments, this probably happened after the turmoil of the war on the island of Bali.

Place of Offering at Prapen Site (Source: Private Collections)

Because of the strong evidence of the existence of the Prapen site as a legacy of the ancestors of the Tihingan Traditional Village, this site was then purified and made into a place for offerings. The people of Tihingan Traditional Village will perform piodalan ceremonies on certain days, one of which is Tumpek Landep, at the Prapen site. Apart from that, because the beliefs and traditions are very strong and unique in the Tihingan Traditional Village, the residents there will dance a Sacred Dance on certain days and ceremonies called the Rejang Pande Suci Wedana Dance.

In essence, the practice of purifying places and objects in Bali is not an attempt to worship them but rather an expression of gratitude. For example, the Prapen site in Tihingan Traditional Village is not just a historical place, but a symbol of appreciation and deep gratitude to the ancestors. Through the piodalan ritual and other ceremonies, the people of Tihingan Traditional Village not only maintain their historical heritage but also celebrate continuity and blessings which they believe come from the skilled hands of their ancestors.

The view towards metal craftsmen, especially the Pande group in Balinese society, is a deep appreciation of their skills and contributions in processing metal. The profession of a blacksmith is considered an invaluable cultural heritage, reminding people of the presence of their ancestors. The Pande people are respected for their ability to create metal works of art that have high aesthetic value and practical use in everyday life. This recognition is reflected in the first name "Pande" which has become the identity for those who carry out this profession. Although many individuals are capable of carrying out metal processing tasks, the Balinese belief is that the best and most meaningful results come from the hands of the Pande. As metal craftsmen, they are not only considered as makers of goods, but also as keepers of local wisdom, traditional values, and cultural heritage that live in every detail of the works of art they create.

Amid the ever-growing trend of modernization, the people of Tihingan Traditional Village have the hope that the blacksmith tradition can survive and develop. They want their skills in processing metal, as shown by the Pande group, to not only be sustainable but also able to adapt to changing times.

This hope not only covers the technical aspects of manufacturing but also involves a spirit of togetherness and coexistence among the blacksmith community. The Tihingan Traditional Village community hopes that the values of local wisdom and the spirit of cooperation will remain at the core of their blacksmith tradition. With support from the government and the wider community, they have the ambition to preserve the uniqueness and cultural richness contained in the art of blacksmithing, making it not only a valuable heritage for themselves but also a cultural asset that can be enjoyed by future generations.