BALI, INDONESIA, February 8, 2014 (Jakarta Post): Dressed in white Balinese attire, more than 120 devotee couples underwent the pewintenan gana wisesa ritual recently at Silayukti temple in Padangbai village, Karangasem. The ritual, which is a purification and initiation rite, elevates the spiritual and social status of the participants into pemangku (temple priests) for males and serati banten (offering makers) for females.
It was organized by Maha Gotra Pasek Sanak Sapta Rsi (MGPSSR), arguably the biggest clan-based organization on the island. Silayukti temple is a historic place of worship believed to have been constructed in 11th century by Mpu Kuturan, an influential sage with supernatural power who played a pivotal role in the birth of Balinese Hinduism.
After the end of the ritual, participants’ bodies and minds are considered sufficiently “pure” to carry out important errands in the temple, including placing offerings in the shrine and sprinkling holy water on the devotees.