Bali. A magical land where mysticism and spirituality weave invisible bonds between humans and the elements. With its ancient rites, Balinese culture keeps on captivating wandering souls from all corners of the world… During your stay here, have you noticed in certain temples locals sprinkling themselves with sacred water ? This is a spiritual purification ritual called melukat. What is the meaning of the melukat ? Can you take part in it even without being Hindu ? In this article, we’ll get to the core of this sacred experience.
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What is the melukat cleansing ritual ?
Let’s start with a quick reminder for those wondering “What is the main religion in Bali?“. Bali is the only island in the Indonesian archipelago that never converted to Islam under the influence of Arab traders centuries ago. The Island of the Gods gets its name from the polytheistic religion that prevails here : Hinduism. A religion in which water holds a significant place.
Generally speaking, Balinese Hinduism places great importance on the worship of nature. Before Hinduism was officially recognized as Bali’s religion in 1945, it was even referred to as Agama Tirta: the religion of water. Water in Bali is considered the very essence of life. It is used in every major rite of a Balinese person’s life, from their birth to their passage into the afterlife…
Melukat is a ceremony aimed at purifying the soul from its impure elements and protecting individuals from evil spirits. To put it differently, it’s a type of spiritual healing. This tradition usually takes place on sacred days, carefully chosen according to the auspices of the Hindu calendar, such as Purnama, the days of full moon. The water purification ceremony occurs in temples (Pura in Balinese), sacred baths, sometimes even in the sea. The ritual is carried out under the watchful guidance of a priest (pemangku).
How does the balinese purification ceremony take place ?
Melukat is generally preceded by a meditation session designed to prepare the mind to receive blessings and release negative energies. The pemangku sometimes performs a reading of the participants’ palms and chakras to better identify the imbalances that need purification.
Upon arriving at the ritual site, offerings and incense are placed to pay homage to the Gods. Participants in the purification ceremony then follow the priest’s guidance to free themselves from the invisible burdens of their past negative actions, whether from this life or previous ones. The pemangku then asks the participants to drink the holy water several times and sprinkles it on them to purify their physical, emotional and spiritual state.
Who can do the melukat purification ?
In other words… Can you undergo the purification if you’re not Balinese or Hindu ? The answer is yes ! The Balinese take real pleasure in sharing their culture and rituals with foreigners—that’s what makes these people so welcoming and endearing. Whether you consider yourself religious, spiritual or atheist doesn’t really matter… as long as you come with an open mind and respect.
Of course, there are certain basic rules to follow, such as :
- Girls : if you’re on your period, you won’t be able to participate in the melukat ceremony ☹️ Access to places of worship is indeed prohibited during this time…
- Participants in the water cleansing ritual must be mindful of their language. It’s forbidden to use inappropriate words like profanity or insults.
- Follow tradition by making offerings.
- During the purification ceremony, you will need to wear traditional Balinese attire, which will of course be provided on-site !
- Lastly, using personal care items such as soap, a toothbrush, or shampoo is prohibited—this should go without saying 😉
Where can I do the water purification ceremony in Bali ?
Now that you know all about this fascinating Balinese practice, there’s only one question left to answer : where can you experience the spiritual cleansing during your stay in Bali ? If you’re seeking a genuine human experience, you might be put off by the water cleansing temples that are usually overwhelmed with tourists… We’ll cover all of that in detail below :
The temple of Tirta Empul... and why I'd suggest avoiding it
The first place that’s usually recommended for tourists wishing to experience melukat is the Tirta Empul Temple, just outside Ubud – a town often regarded as the spiritual heart of Bali. I’ve been there several times and the least I can say is that I’m not a great fan of this idea. The reason is quite simple : I view this activity as the pinnacle of “Instagram tourism”.
Just picture this : a crowd of tourists waiting in line for over an hour to quickly go under the sacred fountains without any explanation, only to end up striking a supposedly “praying” pose. The caption under the Instagram photo will likely go along the lines of “New me” or “You don’t choose Bali; Bali chooses you.” You get the idea: we’re quite far from an authentic experience 😅
The best place to do the melukat according to Balinese tradition
If you’re like me – and if you’re reading this, I’m sure you are 😉 – you probably prefer a small, intimate ceremony with locals there to explain you the meaning of the whole thing and guide you on how to act during the ritual.
So I put on my Sherlock Holmes hat to find a purification ceremony in Bali that’s more off the beaten path and guarantees a truly authentic human and spiritual experience ! After visiting several places and asking my Balinese friends for recommendations, I fell in love with the Pura Mangening temple, located right here.
The place is straight out of a dream—just look at the photo above..! More importantly, there’s an intimate atmosphere that feels much more fitting for this kind of experience. The best part is that you can request to be guided by a priest during the ritual. In other words, all the boxes are checked for a truly magical moment.
Want to experience melukat yourself...
at Pura Mangening ? Easy peazy — book the activity right now by clicking on this link :
I hope this article on melukat, the Bali water purification ceremony, has taught you a thing or two 😉 And who knows… maybe it’s sparked your interest in trying the experience yourself ? If so, I’d be very curious to read your feedback in the comments below ! In the meantime, see you soon for more explorations in Bali 👋
If you enjoyed this post, don’t forget to have a look at Living in Bali : my experience and Bali : what language is spoken
