Palebon is another word for Ngaben, but this for one with higher caste. About 4 days ago, Friday 6^th of April, I was attending father of my best friend cremation. The location of this Palebon is in Karangasem Regency at Abang Distric. Karangasem is really an amazing county; green and hilly with clear water irrigate the farms. Passing the Candidasa, a village with a great beachside view, there were many bungalows and home stay facing the ocean, very nice.

Arrived at the house of my friend around 10.00am, we prepared our self with a traditional Balinese custom and together going to the place of the body temporary laid. I was invited with a special duty, to make documentation of the Palebon, with a small pocket digital camera, good enough. So this time, the process of the cremation will be display here in dee-bali.com.

Guests (or us and everyone) have to eat together before first round of cremation started, with “sate lilit and lawar barak” our energy was fully charged.

Because there were not enough people, the “Lembu Putih” or the white cow statue went first to the location of cremation (graveyard). Lembu Putih is like chest where the body will be placed and burn together using incinerator.

The second round, the “Bade” or the vehicle of the body lifted by dozens of men walks together with all family members and with traditional “Angklung” music, there was no cry, but the joy and emotions were mixed all together. At the graveyard, the Bade circling the Lembu three times and then stop, next was to move the body to the lembu. While the body inside the Lembu, the priest collect all holy water and splash it to the body before the first son take honor to set fire.

I cannot stay longer until the “bone and ashes collecting” round, time was running out and has to back to Denpasar before night. But off course it was a great experience for me.

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