Text & Photos by Jill Gocher

An amazing ceremony that has happened every five years, for almost 1000 years, the Dewa Sraya Ceremony has not happened for ten years due to lack of funds. This year, because of some helpful intervention from a group of concerned foreigners, who raised a healthy US$10,000 at a fundraiser held at the Canggu Club, the ceremony could go on bigger and better than ever.

The ceremony is held to put all relationships - person to person, person to all living creatures, and person to environment – in harmony with the will of the Gods.

Sacrifices were made, gamelans were played, prayers were made, dances were given for the Gods and incredible offerings were abundant during this three week long festival which involved all the regencies of Bali.

The main action took place during October at the Pura Tuluk Biyu in Kintamani which is referred to in the ancient writings as "the place to pray of you want the Gods to hear your prayers".

Ceremonies were also held on the slopes of Bali’s holiest mountain - Gunung Agung and at the Pura Ulun Danau Batur in Kintamani.