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Tumpek Wariga
A Ceremony for Plant
by Koming Astana


Tumpek Wariga also known as Tumpek Uduh or Tumpek Pengatag. Devoted to Sanghyang Sangkara, Lord of all food - plants when blessing ceremony is given to them for good crops and products, held at every plantation and farm throughout the island.

It's called as Tumpek Pengarah since it's a day to give instruction/suggestion for the vegetation to provide a lot of food (fruits, leaves, etc). It enables the Balinese to make any preparation to hail Galungan Day that will come in a few weeks ahead. Pengarah means instruction. It comes once in every six months or every 210 days, suggesting the Balinese to worship God Sangkara the God of Vegetation. It's a right time to beg the God to give His grace so the vegetation can provide a lot of crops.
Balinese worship the honor of God Sangkara at the South West with His sacred color is green symbolizing the fertility. God Sangkara is also worshiped as Dewan Pa-nunggun Karang, the god who protects Balinese in houses. He will turn out into Sang Hyang Kala who will disturb the owner of house if the owner ignores His existence. Such character is quite similar to the characteristic of vegetation. Any effort of people to dam age or to ignore the conservation of vegetation is only a kind of suicide. On the other hand, prosperity and comfort will come around whenever the vegetation is protected and conserved.