This describes my personal experience in a body cleansing or purification ceremony on Bali (“melukat”). Before the advent of the modern medicine, the local population has relied on the cleansing and healing ceremonies for centuries. They are usually based on the Hindu religion, and have a strong spiritual component with pronounced visual and smell effects. The mantras are frequently intuitive and hypnotic. They are also usually using water, and especially the sacred one from many sources on the island. It is believed that these rituals help both the physical and mental healing. Many Balinese are still doing them with their families on a regular basis (even once or twice a month).
Foreign tourists have been drawn to the spiritual and beautiful Bali for decades. In addition to yoga, meditation and physical body cleansing courses, many tourists have undergone a traditional purification ceremony. Many are (deeply) skeptical initially, but quite a few felt afterwards lighter, in higher spirits and with greater energy.
And who knows, it might even work for you. Even without an overwhelming scientific proof why it did. Moreover, the downside is probably low as this is only water, and nobody will try to persuade you to drink any special potions.
What is a melukat on Bali?
All body cleansing rituals on Bali are led by a local priest or healer (“pemangku”). A good pemangku will ask for your personal concerns and ailments well before the ritual and will make an offering for you.
Before you enter the temple, your body should be clean. A priest will pour some holy water for you to wash your face and hair three times to commemorate three Hindu gods (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva). You will be given a mantra, and the initial part will involve negative thoughts leaving your mind and body. Good karma should be coming to you afterwards using various herbs and sprinkling water. Following that, the priest will chant a mantra and sprinkle you with (coconut) water.
The next step you might have already seen, which is the most physical component. You will bath in a lake, river or temple water reservoir. You will be wet, which will probably will great even if only because of the hot and humid weather.
After changing your clothes, the final step is to pray together. You pray five times, the first one for yourself, then for the three Hindu gods, and finally as a farewell. To finish, you will be sprayed by the priest with holy water again.
Balinese families perform a melukat together with children as young as 1-2 years old in the ceremonies as well. Some places also encourage people to come in a traditional sarong and a white upper garment to indicate the search for the purity of thoughts. Participating in this ceremony with a multi-generational local family is an incredible experience, immediately taking out the tourist factor. The local families will probably be exceedingly helpful to guide you through the ritual.
Finally, everybody is welcome regardless of religious background.
Where to find a body cleansing ritual on Bali?
Generally speaking, there are three main groups of venues:
(1) Large touristy temples well-known for melukat
Those Hindu temples might have a holy water source, a long history of purification, and continue to draw the Balinese. Unfortunately, there are also tours organized for tourists to deliver them to one of those famous places.
The ceremony will probably feel different when there are 50 other tourists crowded in the sacred water pool. Furthermore, you might have been talking to them about your travels or parties on the bus for the last hour or so.
Those Bali temples include: Pura Tirta Empul (probably the most famous one for melukat on Bali), Taman Mumbul Temple or Camphuan Windhu.
(2) Large not touristy healing temple
Pura Luhur Tambawaras is an old temple, where Balinese have been asking for blessings and cure of any sickness, body or soul. Many locals are coming but no tourist crowds (yet). Highly recommended if you look for a more traditional and personal experience.
(3) Local temple
These are harder to find and you usually have to ask a knowledgable local. Balinese are usually happy to help you to find a local melukat temple. The experience will probably be much more private with only one family going through the ritual at a time. By far the best option is to join a local family, which is already going to the ceremony. They will gladly go through the ritual with you and explain every step. This will immensely increase your understanding and effect of the ceremony.
Final thoughts
Even if you go on a tour, you will probably find a body cleansing ritual on Bali rewarding and memorable. However, if you manage to tag along a local family going to a local temple, that might be a much more profound experience.
Either way, you will probably not regret it, and you might find it helpful.
Where to go next?
Please also go to Lombok, a Bali from 10-20 years ago. Mt Rinjani (Lombok) Hike is excellent.
Tetebatu (Lombok) is a traditional village with rice fields, monkeys and atmospheric waterfall an hour from the airport or Mataran. In other words, the equivalent of Sidemen on Bali.
When crossing to the Gili islands, the current timetables and prices are here: How to get to Gili islands.
Beyond Lombok, consider Flores. A Komodo tour, an authentic settlement (for example, Bena Traditional Village (Flores)) or a mini-Komodo boat tour on deserted islands in Riung (Flores) are great options.
