TENGANAN VILLAGE - BATUKARU EASTERN BALI HIGHLIGHT
TOURS
West of Candidasa
is a turn-off northwards to Tenganan, a Bali Aga (old Balinese)
village. While there are a number of Bali Aga villages scattered
around the northern Bali, this area is probably the most famous
one. Within its bastions, all living compounds are arranged
in identical rows on either side of wide, stone-paved lanes
running the length of the village, there is the evidence the
villagers originated from the Bedulu village.
Tenganan communally owns a large tracts of well-cultivated
land and is one of the island's richest villages. Traditionally,
the Krama desa, or elder men's association members were not
permitted to work with their hands in the fields, the aristocratic
Tenganan people instead rented their land to neighboring village
and only went to the fields to collect 'tuak' or palm wine juice.
The Tenganan women still weave the famous Kamben Geringsing,
or flaming cloth, which they say has the power to immunise the
wearer against the evil. To make a single piece of cloth, using
the intricate double ikat process of weaving and dyeing, can
take up to five years. Only the finest geringsing pieces are
worn by the Tenganan people as ceremonial dress. Imperfect ones
are sold off, and even this fetch high price on the market.
