Special Village in Bali; Candi Dasa - Tenganan

Candi Dasa 

Candi Dasa is a resting place or a resort that is located in Karangasem regency, Bali. This area is approximately 90 km away to the northeast of Denpasar. From Candi Dasa to go Tenganan distance is only about 10 kilometers. Candi Dasa is located at Amuk Bay which is one of famous places to dive. Small islands in the Gulf Amuk (Tepekong Gili, Gili Biaha, Gili Mimpang) offers a stunning dive experience. However, the dive guides there must warn divers who guided  to be very careful because the currents are very strong diving and often unpredictable presence.  


Washing machine effect can easily create a panic divers. Because of this a few sites declared as a dangerous place for beginner divers.

Tenganan 

Tenganan is a traditional village on the island of Bali. The village is situated at Manggis district, Karangasem regency in the eastern island of Bali. Tenganan can be reached from Candi Dasa tourist spot and location approximately 10 kilometers from there.

Tenganan Village is one of the villagers from three villages of Bali Aga, in addition to Trunyanese and Sembiran. The meaning of Bali Aga is a village that still retains the spatial pattern of community life refers to the traditional rules of customary village who inherited their ancestors. The shape and large buildings and grounds, building arrangement, until the location of the temple was made by following the customary rules of hereditary maintained.

According to some versions of historical records, Tenganan word comes from the word "middle" or "ngatengahang" which means "to move into deeper areas. " The word is related towith movement of villagers from the seaside to a rural area in the middle of the hills ,the West Hill ( Bukit Kauh )and East Hill ( Bukit Kangin ).

Another history says that community comes from the village of Tenganan Peneges, Gianyar, who used to be called as Bedahulu. According to folklore, King Bedahulu never lost one horse and people looking to the East. The horse was found dead by Ki Patih Tunjung Blue, people trust the king. For his loyalty, Blue lotus Ki Patih get the authority to regulate areas that have the scent of the dead (carrion) horse. Ki Patih get the area wide enough for he cut off the dead horse and spread it as far as he could do. That's the origin of the Village area Tenganan.

Generally, the villagers Tenganan work as rice farmers, but some are making various handicrafts. Some crafts typical of Tenganan is woven bamboo, carvings, and paintings on palm leaves that had been burned. In this village, visitors can see the buildings of the village and the young craftsmen who draw lontar. From the first, the village of Tenganan also been known for its expertise in weaving cloth gringsing. How workmanship gringsing fabric is called double ikat technique. The technique is the only one in Indonesia and the resulting fabric gringsing known to the foreign parties. Tenganan residents still use the barter system in their daily life.

Everyday life in this village is still governed by customary law, called awig-awig. The law was written in the 11th century and refurbished in 1842. Tenganan traditional house built from a mixture of red stone, river stone, and soil. While the roof is made of a pile of leaves rumbi. Existing traditional house has a shape and size relatively similar, with the characteristic form of the entrance of a width measuring only one adult. Another feature is the top of the door looks blend with the roof of the house.

Residents of this village has a unique tradition in recruiting candidates for village leaders, one of them through traditional procession sabatan mesabar-Biu (banana war.) Candidate prajuru educated according to local custom village since childhood or in stages and indigenous tradition is a kind of psychological tests for candidates for village leaders. On the date specified by the local dating system (around July) will be held ngusaba Sambah with a unique tradition mageret pandan (pandanus war.) In the event, two pairs of village youth will fight on stage with each slice using pandanus thorns. Although it will cause injuries, they have antiseptic treatment of the tubers of which will be oiled at all wound up to dry and heal within a few days. The tradition is to continue the war games routine and create citizens with physical and mental condition is strong. Tenganan population has been known as the Hindu god Indra flow, which is believed to be the god of war.

Community Tenganan teach and uphold the concept of Tri Hita Karana (the concept in Hindu teachings) and shape it in everyday life. Tri means three and Hita Karana means cause of happiness to achieve balance and harmony. Tri Hita Karana consists of Perahyangan (a balanced relationship between man and God), Pawongan (harmonious relationship between humans and other humans) and Palemahan (harmonious relationship between humans and the natural environment around it).