(Bali) Hindu priests kill animals and stick their heads on poles over bombings

[Guest guest]

November 16, 2002

The West Australian

Spirits set free among blast ruins

 

TO THE sound of gongs and bells floating on incense-laden air, the spirits

of the Bali bombing victims were released to their next life yesterday.

 

Thousands of people, including the weeping families of more than 30

Australians who died in the blasts on October 12, crowded round the site and

nearby Kuta beach to see the day-long ceremony.

 

Many held pictures of their loved ones.

 

The heads of sacrificial animals, including buffalo, monkeys and pigs, were

laid at several elaborate bamboo altars erected amid the ruins of the Sari

Club and its surroundings, where an estimated 180 people died.

 

In a related ceremony, a cow, buffalo, deer, dog, black goat, black monkey,

pig, duck and a swan were prepared for sacrifice.

 

The ceremony, conducted by Hindu high priests clad in white and gold, was to

put the souls of the victims in the correct plane, to purify them and show

them the right way to enter the next cycle, one of the organisers, Ngurah

Gede, said.

 

Pieces of rubble from the bomb site were carried to the sea to restore

harmony and the continuity of life to the community of Kuta.

 

Incense burned atop the twisted wreckage of cars which still lay at the

site.

 

The event, televised throughout Indonesia, coincided with a national day of

mourning for the victims.

 

About 8000 police were deployed throughout the island, with about 1000 in

the immediate vicinity.

 

President Megawati Sukarnoputri, who is part-Balinese, did not attend but

was represented by her husband, Taufiq Kiemas.

 

Australia was represented by Federal Health Minister Kay Patterson and

diplomats from Jakarta.

 

The site was so crowded that Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda had

to squeeze through the crowd over the debris to his VIP position at the

front.

 

Among the mourners was Andrew Dark, 37, of Melbourne, who was with his

brother-in-law Anthony Cachia when the bombs went off.

 

He searched for Anthony for five days before giving up. He came back on

Thursday with Anthony's mother.

 

" We haven't found him yet, " he said.

 

" It's no closer. But I believe in bringing Anthony's mother over here for

this ceremony. It's a step forward. "

 

David (Spike) Stewart came with his wife, Marilyn, to mourn their son

Anthony, who died just before his 30th birthday.

 

" I really think it's very important, " he said. " We still haven't found

Anthony and there's not too many left (who haven't been identified). It's

not looking good at all, but this will help out a little bit. It's good. "

 

 

 

 

-AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS