Kerambitan is a town where art, song and dance merge in a beautiful display of vibrant culture. It is a town to explore the artistic traditions of Bali; the Balinese people here are more than happy to guide you through the tales and performances that put this little town on the map.
Kerambitan is located around 6 kms southwest of the town of Tabanan. It is primarily an agricultural town which has plenty of green rice fields. The subtle serenity exhibited by the vast expanses of green with the great Gunung Batukau Mountain looming hazily in the distance, is quite a breathtaking sight. The name Kerambitan is a derivative of ‘Karawitan’ which translates to music, art and dance. A tour through this town will make you understand how it perfectly lives up to its name.
The town is ornamented by some of the most beautiful buildings of the district. The Puri Agung Palace is one such attraction that is set amidst lush gardens and a number of striking buildings covered by Dutch and Portuguese porcelain. The graveyard here is also quite interesting as one grave is dedicated for every generation and this too is ornamented with porcelain plates, a rather unique feature in Kerambitan.
What is most unique about Kerambitan is its extraordinary array of song and dance. Known commonly as the ‘tektekan’, this orchestra is strongly believed by the locals to have magical powers. In this dance, a couple of men march in procession with giant cowbells and bamboo split drums hanging around their necks, thought to scare off the evil spirits who bring about natural disasters to humankind. The end of the dance is more like a trance where the entire orchestra armed with the ‘keris’ knives, attack ‘rangda’, the evil witch. The dance is concluded with the sacrifice of the blood of a duck or chicken. Visit Kerambitan the day before the Balinese New Year to watch this passionate ritual come to life. It offers a truly unique perspective on the region’s rich cultural heritage and its traditions.
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