"Tumpek Landep" Metal Ceremony at Ketut's House, Lovina, Bali

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Tumpek Landep - Celebrating all that is metal. 

Above Balinese Kris has a wavy metal blade.

 

 

Ketut texted me to join him for the"Tumpek Landep"
ceremony at his home, which he celebrates every 210 days. 
On this day, Balinese pray over cars, motorbikes, metallic
equipment, laptops and their traditional  kris (keris) daggers. 
The ceremony is supposed to bring them a sharp mind,
represented by the sharpness of metal.  Balinese believe that
the highest level and the greatest weapon of human being is
their mind, which can bring someone to a better life.
Ubud, Bali Community link describes "tumpek landep"
 

After Ketut told me where he lives, I accidently took the
wrong alleyway off the road.  When I approached the house
that I thought was Ketuts, the door was slightly ajar, a man was
snoring, lying on a bare mattress and I softly called “Ketut?
...Ketut?"  How embarrassed I was when I discovered that not
only was I was at the  wrong house, but I woke up the wrong
man!!  BUT the good news is that the man who should have
been annoyed, was instead accommodating and even escorted
me to Ketut's house.  Later I found out he was a cousin.

Ketut came to the door wearing his best smile,  wearing only
his jockey shorts and his usual grin,  while his wife came
strolling out wearing a thin, pink towel.  (Was I early?...I didn't
think so.  I arrived in the time frame they mentioned)  Suddenly
what appeared next, was the thick Bali coffee, infused with sugar
and sweet crackers.  From this, I learned that Bali is a casual kind
of place and people here take their naps seriously:)

Apparently, his wife had already done a lot of preparation, filling
an entire basket of intricately woven, hand made offerings.  While
Ketut happily pranced around posing for my camera, his wife very
methodically went through the rituals and ceremonies, sprinkling
the motorcycles with holy water, lighting incense and saying
prayers. Even Ketut’s metal carved knife, his spiritual Balinese
kris (keris), was carefully placed on top of the basket of offerings. 

The kris is an asymmetrical dagger with distinctive blade-
patterning achieved through alternating laminations of iron and
nickelous iron. The kris is famous for its distinctive wavy blade.
Both in Bali and Java,  the kris is deeply embedded in a mutually
connected whole of ritual prescriptions and ceremonies, mythical
backgrounds and epic poetry.  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kris

 

I bought a Keris once for my son, which he still displays near his
fireplace with other assorted international knives and weapons.  But
I have always wondered if I should have had it blessed by the priest
in Bali?
 

I am a real sucker for Balinese ceremonies and it seems now I am in
a state of Bali bliss and blessed with good luck to have Ketut as my
friend.




Ketut's wife performs Tumpek Landep ceremonies over the motorbikes
Lovina, Bali



A peek into the family temple, Lovina, Bali




Ketut's wife is busy making offerings,
while Ketut prepares me a coconut drink for me.
Women in Bali are continuously making offerings, which seems  continuously.
Lovina, Bali