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A Holy Bath


A Holy Bath
Photo Information
Copyright: Agoes SK (wieyos) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1115 W: 43 N: 2153] (9006)
Genre: People
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-08-16
Categories: Decisive Moment, Action, Mood
Camera: Pentax K20D, PENTAX SMC DA 18-55MM F/3.5-5.6 AL II, Hoya 52mm PL-CIR
Exposure: f/6.7, 1/90 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-08-18 6:40
Viewed: 547
Points: 30
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hi Folks,

Just came back from a brief vacation in Bali, Island of Gods. Three days is definitely too short a visit to such a beautiful place with plenty to offer.

Tampaksiring village is one of the places I visited and this is one of the images I took there. To complement the image, here is something from the Net for a brief info.

This important temple one km north of the Tampaksiring village was founded as early as 962 AD. It is an absolutely worth a visit. Even if this is one of the oldest sites on Bali much of the structures are relatively new, it was completely restored in 1969.

People from all over Bali come here to take a bath in the holy water for good health and good luck. The crystal clear water surfaces in a pool which, according to old traditions, is the Balinese Fountain of Eternal Youth. The pool is therefore protected by a wall. The surfacing water origins from the Batur lake via underground rivers.

Water is considered to be so important on Bali that it is used in almost all ceremonies and rituals. The Balinese religion is often called Agama Tirta; "The Religion of the Holy Water". The water in Pura Tirta Empul is especially holy, all water used for cremations on Bali are taken from here and believed to have magical healing powers.

Tirta Empul was built under the rule of Sri Candrabhaya Singha Warmadewa in the 10th century. Like other Balinese temples it is divided into three main courtyards: the front, the middle and the inner sanctum. Backing the outer courtyard are two rectangular bathing pools, one for men and one for women.

According to tradition, each of the pool's 15 fountains has its own name and function: spiritual purification, cleansing from evil, antidote to poison.

A legend tells the story about how the god Indra created the spring in Tirta Empul. His army had been poisoned by the demon king Mayadanava, and Indra made a hole in the Earth in order to tap "amerta", the healing water which brought life back to his soldiers.

An inscription with old-Balinese text, found in the Manukaya village north of Tampaksiring, tells about two pools built here in 962 AD. The inscription was finally deciphered in 1969, and described in detail a ritual cleansing of a holy stone during the full moon in the fourth month of the Balinese calendar.

During more than 1,000 years the villagers of Manukaya repeated this ritual on the exact day of the founding of Tirta Empul. They never knew why until someone was able to read the inscription. The date of the temple's founding must have been handed down orally through 33 generations of invasions, dynastic changes, and natural disasters.

Ceremonies are regularly held in Tirta Empul, and dance groups from far away come to cleanse their barong masks in the water. The area is known for carvings in ivory, bones and coconut shells, which can be bought here. On a hilltop above Tirta Empul sits the palace of Indonesia's first president, Sukarno. The Istana Negara palace was built in 1954

Thanking you in advance for viewing & your kind words.

Agoes
tsesler, kross1, Lano, cunejo200, trekks, szekelykristof, jan515, Ramdan, eosnut, Dot, RSK, jusninasirun has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Jan: Thankswieyos 1 08-18 07:44
To trekks: Thankswieyos 1 08-18 07:41
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello my dear friend,
nice to see your wonderful captures again:)
excellent pov and perspective here,
i really love the beautiful rich colours,
great work,
welldone and tfs,
regards,
Taner

Hi Agoes,
Great capture of this sacred place. I really like the detail in this pcture and the color of the surrounding area. Your note explaining this scene is very informative. Great work.
Regards,
Kevin

What a great documentary style photo Agoes.
Excellent choice to go verticle.
Great natural colors and perfect focus.
Well done.
- Vincent

  • Great 
  • Lano Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 57 W: 0 N: 173] (1031)
  • [2008-08-18 6:57]

Assalammualaikum Bosku,

waduh! komposisinya menawan sekali, warnanya dan perinciannya juga menarik,

I like it bosku..

Regards,

Ruslan

This is a wonderful composition Agoes. I visited Tampaksiring many years ago before I owned a digital camera and would love to return someday. Incredible colors and sharpness in this very engaging image. Best regards, Danilo

hi Agoes

I thought this is common in India, but Indonesia?

This is very interesting shot of the long queue of people taking the bath. Definitely very worth a post to TL. A good capture to show nice color saturation, and without harsh light. Informative note.

tfs, bill

  • Great 
  • Jan Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 434 W: 123 N: 728] (4867)
  • [2008-08-18 7:23]
  • [+]

Three days?? Yes that is too short!!
But I imagine that you have seen a lot these days!
Thanks for sharing this ritual with us. And you have an informative note!

Janneke

Hi Agoes,
Intereseting composition and a well captured action shot. Interesting ceremony, thanks for your note, very useful. Colours of this image are splendid. TFS.
Best wishes,
Kristof

  • Great 
  • jan515 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2498 W: 56 N: 3862] (17484)
  • [2008-08-19 11:10]

Hello Agoes,
Your note is very informativ. A picture from the life is taken to class super colors and detail, congratulates. They have a very good eye for such Scenery, congratulate.
Janusz

  • Great 
  • Ramdan Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 701 W: 31 N: 1420] (5756)
  • [2008-08-19 16:24]

Assalamualaikum,

Meningu ini gambal, sia rasa macam kecuuut saja di bawah2 ni. Sia tebayang sejuknya berendam bila nampak warna itu air. Nice Color and clarity.

Bacaaaa-baca tu nota, ulnah tok, macam sia baca NG punya artikel tau. Seronok baca; informative, dengan plot yang menarik - very well written note.

Salam
Ndan

  • Great 
  • eosnut Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 589 W: 164 N: 1405] (10149)
  • [2008-08-20 1:26]

Hi Agoes,
Stunning photo journalist image...should be National Geographic. Well done and thanks for such an interesting note.
Pete.

wow very good documentation of the bath ceremony nice shot

cris(",)

  • Great 
  • Dot Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1429 W: 31 N: 3081] (12504)
  • [2008-08-20 6:17]

HI Agoes
A great capture of this ritual in the lives of the Bali people.
It is most pleasant and I feel priviledge to be able to see this.
TFS
Dot

  • Great 
  • RSK Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 517 W: 133 N: 972] (7120)
  • [2008-08-20 11:52]

Greetings Agoes,very informative notes,as well as image.
This is an event & a location that I would never be aware of
thank you for sharing it with us. You have captured the procedure of bathing in the holy water, from the entry into the pool & the walk around the flowing waters,perfect POV.


Ron

Salam Agoes. Excellent new addition you your already brilliant collection of images. I like the perspective with strong dynamics in the composition. The choice of tall framing and perfection in metering are flawless. Sharp detail and pleasing saturated color. Well done and thanks for the support during my absenteeism. Regards. Jusni

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