TUMPEK LANDEP ( 4 )

Today, ceremonies on Tumpek Landep are extended to ritualize all objects made of metal, including cars, motorbikes, trucks, computers, televisions, digital cameras and machinery. Machinery, vehicles, and other goods are washed and cleaned prior to the ceremony. Transport companies who own several cars or buses, printing companies, rice-milling factories and all other factories normally close operations on Tumpek Landep day. Metallic objects are blessed through quite a large ceremony with elaborate offerings; perhaps completed with the sharing of a suckling pig, the ultimate show of a successful ceremony. The goals are the same; on one hand, Lord Pasupati is honoured and on the other hand, operational functions are maintained, thus helping day-to-day usage. People also believe that a lack of ceremonies could cause the metallic objects to malfunction. Therefore, the Balinese usually perform a 'melaspas' ceremony for every new metallic object before its use or operation. During the ceremony, it is hoped that the Gods will bless the objects as well as their users. In the recent past, a jumbo jet at Bali Ngurah Rai airport was even witnessed being ritualized before starting to serve a new international route! However, ceremonies of small metal goods or big machinery such as trucks continue to be held every Tumpek Landep and on holy days such as Kuningan.