Holiday Ayo - The diversity of ethnic groups in Indonesia gave birth to many traditional cultures, including in traditional ceremonies. As in Badung Regency, there is a traditional ceremony to reject reinforcements called Mekotek.

The Mekotek ceremony is still preserved by the Hindu community in Munggu Village, Mengwi District, Badung, Bali. This ancestral tradition, also known as ngerebek, is held with the aim of asking for safety.

Initially, the traditional ceremony was carried out to welcome the soldiers of the Mengwi Kingdom who came to bring victory over the Blambangan Kingdom in Java. Until then it became a tradition until now.

During the Dutch administration in 1915, Mekotek was discontinued. Because the Dutch were worried that there would be a rebellion. However, there was a disease outbreak so the ceremony was held again to reject reinforcements.

The Mekotek ceremony is held every 6 months, 210 days according to the Hindu calendar, on Kliwon Kuningan Saturday. Right on Kuningan Day or after Galungan Day.

In ancient times, the Mekotek celebration used iron which gave fighting spirit to the battlefield or from the battlefield. However, many participants were injured, so the iron spear was replaced with a stick of pulet wood that had been peeled off and measured about 2 to 3.5 meters in length.

Participants are required to wear Madya traditional clothes, namely kancut and udeng batik and then gather at Dalem Munggu Temple. After gathering, they prayed and thanked them for the crops.

Then all participants marched to the water source in Munggu Village. Usually, this ceremony is attended by 2000 participants. They are Munggu residents consisting of 15 banjars, who take to the streets from the age of 12 to 60 years.

Previously, the participants were divided into groups of 50 people. Wooden sticks are carried, pitted in the air to form a pyramid or cone. For participants who have the guts, climb to the top of the group of wooden sticks and stand on them, then give a commanding spirit to the group.

This was also done by other groups. The command given by the person at the top of the stick, namely hitting the opponent's stick group or another group. This traditional tradition is more lively because it is accompanied by gamelan to encourage the participants.