INDONESIA | Tuesday, 25 June 2013 | Views [896]
"Black Smoke - Freeing the Spirit of Life"
May 14th, 2013:
The head of an ornate huge manmade black bull with golden adornments which is being used as the sarcophagus for a member of the royal family in the cremation or Ngaben ceremony in accordance with the beliefs of Balinese Hinduism. It is alight and as the black smoke billows out of its mouth, this symbolizes the spirit leaving the body. Taken at the main temple of Ubud, Bali, Indonesia. It is believed that a cremation is a time for gaiety and not mourning as it represents their most sacred duty, which is to liberate the souls of the dead as part of the cycle of life.
Tags: ngaben ceremony, cremation, balinese hinduism, sarcophagus, black bull, ornate, black smoke, spirit release, ubud, bali
