The 44th Bali Arts Festival (PKB or Pesta Kesenian Bali) was officially opened on Sunday (12/6/2022). This annual event begins with a peed aya (parade) centered in front of the Balinese Struggle Monument, Renon, Denpasar. Dozens of contingents, ranging from representatives of districts/cities throughout Bali, universities, banking, and so on, presented their best works of art.
The strains of gamelan combined with slick dances that are full of meaning are the main attractions in this parade. This moment also shows the spirit of the revival of the noble arts of Bali. The parade was greeted enthusiastically by the Balinese and tourists who had packed the streets a few hours before the event started.
This parade was opened by the Minister of Home Affairs, Tito Karnavian, and accompanied by the Bali Governor, I Wayan Koster. At that moment, the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno also attended the event.
Universitas Pendidikan Ganesha (Undiksha) was one of the participants in this parade. The contingents who are members of the Regional Arts Student Activity Unit display works of art that raise traditional ceremonies, traditions, and culture in the Buleleng Regency.
The work still refers to the PKB theme, namely “Danu Kerthi: Huluning Amreta” (Glorifying water as the source of life). This theme is actualized in the work of the Manah Toya Ceremony which is a ritual of water glorification ceremony. This ceremonial procession is taking holy water in the lake (spring) by shooting an arrow filled with flowers into the water of the lake. Then the water is taken right where the flowers fall. The holy water is used as a means in the pitra yadnya ceremony. This procession is accompanied by a Pedeengan/peed, a teruna-teruni couple dressed in Payas Deeng clothing typical of Buleleng Regency for the Pitra Yadnya ceremony. (https://undiksha.ac.id/Introduce-kekayaan-Budaya-buleleng-undiksha-tampil-apik-di-pkb/)
At this annual event, three students of Informatics Education (Mahapati) participated in the PKB parade with other Undiksha teams. The students were I Gusti Ayu Tresna Dewi as Medeeng, and I Gede Hary Sadhujana as a musician.
I Gusti Ayu Tresna Dewi explained that she took part in the PKB parade this time because she had talent in a pageant and joined the Putra Putri Undiksha election.
“I am very enthusiastic and excited to take part in this PKB parade because this is my first time participating in PKB. I forgot that there was an unfinished organizational task, thankfully I was able to finish it. This has become my learning in dividing the time in each activity”. As Ayu said who was contacted via WhatsApp. (an)
