Trunyan Ceremony

The Terunyan ceremony you’re referring to is likely the Berutuk or Barong Brutuk ritual, a unique tradition practiced by the Bali Aga people in Trunyan Village, located on the shores of Lake Batur in Bali, Indonesia. Here’s what I found out about this fascinating ceremony.

The Berutuk Ritual

• Purpose: The Berutuk ritual represents the legend of the migration of the villagers of Trunyan from other Balinese Aga villages in the east of the island.
• Duration: The ceremony lasts for 3 consecutive days and requires 42 days of quarantine and purification for the participants.
• Participants: Teenagers dressed in dried banana leaves and sacred masks participate in the ritual, which involves a procession and dance without music.
• Key Elements:
  • Courtship Dance: A king and queen, known as King and Queen Berutuk, engage in a courtship dance inspired by the movements of a common bird around Trunyan.
  • Fertility Ritual: The queen must be successfully captured by the king to ensure the fertility of Trunyan’s village and the dancer.
  • Protection: Spectators try to steal the participants’ banana leaves, which become protective amulets, while the dancers repel them with a whip, believing that anyone who gets whipped can be cured of illness.

The Barong Brutuk Dance

• Frequency: Held every 4 years on the full moon of the Balinese calendar.
• Duration: Lasts for 2 consecutive days.
• Participants: 21 young men who have undergone a 42-day quarantine period participate in the dance.
• Costumes: The dancers wear masks made of coconut shells and costumes made of dry banana leaves.

Significance

The Berutuk and Barong Brutuk rituals showcase the unique cultural heritage of the Bali Aga people in Trunyan Village, highlighting their distinct traditions and customs that predate Hinduism and Buddhism. These ceremonies play an essential role in preserving the community’s history, values, and spiritual practices.