The links between a trance ritual and environmental destruction in Bali | Saras Dewi | TEDxUbud

Summary

This compelling narrative follows the speaker's journey to rediscover the ancient Balinese dance of *Sang Hyang Dedari*, a ritual where young girls are believed to be possessed by goddesses. Inspired by childhood stories from her grandmother, the speaker embarks on research to understand the dance's cultural and ecological significance. Despite initial disappointment in finding it nearly extinct, she uncovers a remote village where the dance is still performed. The villagers believe it connects them to the Earth goddess, aiding in agricultural prosperity and environmental healing. The story highlights the resilience of indigenous practices and their role in combating modern ecological challenges.

Takeaways

• 😀 The narrator recalls her childhood memories of hearing her grandmother tell stories about the ancient dance called Sang Hyang Dedari, believed to involve little girls possessed by goddesses.
• 😀 The dance, Sang Hyang Dedari, was historically performed by girls with supernatural abilities, such as running fast, climbing high bamboo poles, and walking through fire with closed eyes.
• 😀 As a child, the narrator was fascinated by the dance and later became obsessed with researching it to understand its significance and whether it still exists.
• 😀 After extensive research, the narrator discovered that the dance had largely disappeared, likely due to modernization and industrialization in Bali.
• 😀 In 2016, the narrator received a tip about a small village near Mount Agung where the dance was still being performed, reigniting her hope for a breakthrough.
• 😀 Upon visiting the village of Grencak, the narrator learned that the villagers believed the dance was tied to their agricultural prosperity, particularly in ensuring a successful rice harvest and warding off pests.
• 😀 The villagers viewed the goddess of the earth as the protector of farmers, and maintaining the dance was believed to bring divine favor for bountiful crops and social harmony.
• 😀 The villagers of Grencak had faced decades of ecological decline due to over-reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, leading to barren land and failed crops.
• 😀 In an effort to restore their farming practices and environment, the villagers resurrected the Sang Hyang Dedari dance, alongside indigenous agricultural techniques and their sacred rice seed, called paddy masa.
• 😀 The narrator concludes that the success of Grencak's restoration of both ecological and cultural traditions, including the revival of the Sang Hyang Dedari dance, offers hope amidst the global climate crisis and shows the power of indigenous communities in environmental stewardship.

Q & A

What is the central theme of the story shared by the speaker?

The central theme revolves around the ancient Balinese dance known as 'Sang Hyang The Daddy,' its cultural significance, and its connection to the environment, as well as the speaker's journey to uncover its practice and meaning.

What was the speaker's initial encounter with the Sang Hyang The Daddy dance?

The speaker's first encounter with the dance was when her grandmother told her about it while braiding her hair, describing it as a mystical dance performed by little girls possessed by goddesses, showcasing their supernatural powers.

How did the speaker’s grandmother describe the dance?

The grandmother described the Sang Hyang The Daddy dance as a sacred ritual where young girls, believed to be possessed by goddesses, exhibited supernatural abilities like running fast, climbing tall bamboo poles, and walking through fire—all while their eyes were closed.

Why did the speaker initially become obsessed with the Sang Hyang The Daddy dance?

The speaker became fascinated with the dance after hearing her grandmother's magical stories, which led her to seek more information and research the dance as she grew older.

What was the result of the speaker's initial research on the dance?

The speaker's preliminary research in Bali led her to a disappointing conclusion, suggesting that the Sang Hyang The Daddy dance was on the brink of extinction due to modernization and industrialization.

What breakthrough did the speaker experience in her research?

A breakthrough came when the speaker was contacted by a source in a remote village near Mount Agung, who informed her that the Sang Hyang The Daddy dance was still being performed there, leading her to investigate further.

How do the villagers of Grenikaw view the dance and its role in their community?

The villagers of Grenikaw view the dance as a sacred act connected to their belief in the goddess of the earth, whose presence is thought to bring bountiful harvests, protect crops, and maintain harmony between people and nature.

What ecological and sociological challenges did the villagers of Grenikaw face?

The villagers experienced a decline in crop yields, soil infertility, and a loss of farming traditions due to the overuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Additionally, many youth left farming for urban opportunities.

How did the villagers of Grenikaw restore their environment and traditions?

The villagers returned to traditional farming methods, resurrected their indigenous seed variety known as 'Paddy Massa,' and revived the Sang Hyang The Daddy dance as part of their efforts to restore ecological balance and cultural identity.

What is the philosophical takeaway that the speaker draws from the dance and the villagers' efforts?

The speaker concludes that the dance symbolizes the deep connection between people and nature, highlighting the importance of oral traditions and indigenous knowledge in safeguarding the environment, offering a form of catharsis, and healing the fractured relationship between humans and the earth.