cremation ceremonies in bali ”ngaben”

“lembu”

 

“wadah”

ngaben, or cremation ceremony, is the ritual performed in Bali to send the deceased to the next life. 

the coffin is placed inside a sarcophagus resembling a buffalo (lembu) or in a temple structure (wadah) made of paper and wood. the buffalo or temple structure will be carried to the cremation site in a procession. 

the climax of ngaben is the burning of the whole structure, together with the body. the fire is necessary to free the spirit from the body and enable reincarnation.