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Welcome
Welcome to our blog. We hope to introduce you to the real beauties of Indonesia. Click on the the words on the side of the blog to navigate. |
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Name:
Fredricia(group leader), Amelia, Christina, Reinaldo, Matthew
School:
Nasional High Junior Senior School
We hope you enjoyed our website! Visit us again! (:
Examples of flowers being offered to the Gods:
Based on Ngurah Nala’s article (Sarad Magazine edition January 22nd 2002), all flowers can be used for praying. Although, there are some rules in choosing flowers if wanted to be used for praying. Flowers which are withered are forbidden. More over, using flowers that are picked from the ground, because it falls off from its twig, is also forbidden.
Examples of flowers that cannot be used to offer to the Gods:
It is better to use flowers that are picked from its twig intentionally. Fresh flowers without bug bites are suggested. Actually dirty flowers cannot be used for praying but the Balinese use it anyway, although, with many considerations and of course they will wash that flower with clean water first. In addition, before using it for praying, the flower must be purified above burning incense with special incantation ; “om puspa dantaya nama swaha”.
Balinese believe that gemitir (a fragrant orange flower), a flower which grows in the graveyard, and flowers which are struck by lightning are forbidden to use in praying. However there are no sources that explain it.
Generally, the explanation about the forbidden flower are only based on the myth in lontar (an old manuscript). In Lontar Aji Janantaka, Siwa (a goddess) changes all of the people in Janantaka to be trees. Siwa did it because he wanted to come to Earth in order to help the people of Janantaka and he wanted to meet the humans directly.
Finally, he came to Janantaka. All of the trees and other plants came to him to be purified. Altough, Jempiring alit (tuludnyuh) and salikonta did not come and there are no explanations about the reason why. So, Siwa forbade these flowers to be used in praying.
It is important to remember that Balinese use flowers to pray, therefore flowers which are used must be clean and holy.
RAFFLESIA ARNOLDII
Rafflesia arnoldii is a rare flower found in the rainforests of Indonesia. It is a rare flower and also the WORLD'S largest single flower! It can grow to 3 feet across and can weigh up to 11 kilograms. A parasitic plant, with no visible leaves, roots, or stem. Rafflesias are always found on a host plant which it uses for its nutrients and water needs. Many of the Rafflesia species are threatened or endangered, the major reason why Indonesia adopted Rafflesia as one of its National Flower - to help in the conciousness of preserving the nature around us and the Rafflesias.
This flower take months to develop, and when it reaches it’s most developed state, it will only last a few days. The Rafflesia flower only lives in primary rainforests (i.e. undisturbed), making it even more difficult to keep it alive and thriving.PICTURE:
MOON ORCHID
The Moon Orchid is one of the longest blooming orchids. The inflorescence are branched and can last from two to six months before dropping. The Moon Orchid usually blooms two to three times a year once it has reached maturity. It thrives in moist temperature so it is widely found in the lowlands of Indonesia.
PICTURE:
MELATI or SACRED JASMINE
Another rare flower is the melati otherwise known as sacred jasmine. There are many different types of Jasmine that can be found in Indonesia. Jasmine is also the National Flower of the Philippines.
PICTURE:
Indonesia's True Colors blogged at 2:06 AM
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