In the Balinese belief system, the ceremony helps people rid themselves of the invisible forces of evil - teeth are the symbol of lust, greed, anger, insobriety, confusion and jealousy. Filing the teeth therefore renders someone both more physically and more spiritually beautiful, as well as symbolising the rite of passage for an adolescent into adulthood.
Ceremonies are usually held between 4.00 am to 6.00 am, before the sun rises, and are accompanied by religious songs. After the tooth filing ceremony, the teenager is considered to be a mature adult. In recent years, families have taken to holding their children's ceremonies in a group in order to economise.
The preparation before the ceremony, my friend is in makeup by the professional Balinese makeup artist. it takes 45 to 60 minutes for the face makeup only.
Finally they begin to put the Balinese traditional dress on, it takes 30 to 45 minutes to put the dress on her.
The ceremony was led by "Mangku" (chosen priest), before Mangku began the ceremony he asked her to pray for the ceremony run smoothly.
When the filing is finished, the astringent betel pepper leaf (base) is rubbed on the ends of the teeth, and then the 'pedanda' places various other soothing, healing tinctures on the end of the initiate's tongues. The coconut shell receptacle of filing debris and saliva is then buried behind the ancestral shrine lest it be occupied by evil spirits.
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