Bali is known for its history and rich cultural traditions that have been well preserved by its people. One of the many traditions is called Omed-omedan, also known as the kissing ceremony.
'Omed-omedan', is a ceremony held by the young people of Banjar Kaja Sesetan, Denpasar, Bali. The name is derived from the Balinese language and means pull-pull. It originates from a fight between a male and female pig and represents the push and pull of positive and negative elements.
This ritual has been around for at least 100 years. Originally only the people of Banjar Kaja Sesetan village could participate. It is not clear when mass kissing was incorporated into the tradition, but it has become a ceremony for the youths of the village to express their joy on the first day of the new year.
Omed-omedan involves unmarried youths with ages between 17 to 30 years old. The procession begins with the youths praying together to invoke safety. After the prayer, the men and women separate. The groups face each other on the main street. With the signal of a Hindu leader, both sides approach the center of the road. Male participants pull and kiss the female participants while other villagers pour buckets of water over them.
This ceremony has become a meeting place for singles. Many couples have met through this tradition.
Omed-Omedan is held on the day after Nyepi or The Day of Silence, a day of reflection which prohibits lighting fires or using electricity, traveling or engaging in any form of entertainment.
The ritual is held in Sesetan, Denpasar, specifically in Banjar Kaja and its community.
The ceremony is held during the afternoon between 2-3pm, but the surrounding villagers and locals will have gathered way before this time.
Visitors/Travelers should come early to occupy good locations to take pictures. On that note, it’s wise to have some type of cover for your camera or waterproof camera as the ritual involves lots of water being splashed around as the participants proceed with the kissing.
The kissing ceremony is just one of many cultural traditions still very well practiced in present day in Bali.
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