A Celebration of Death

In Bali, death is not an end but a passage to the next life. Ngaben, the island’s elaborate cremation ceremony, is a vibrant celebration of a soul’s journey. When a person of high status passes away, the community comes together for a grand procession filled with music, dance, and color. The body is placed in a towering, intricately decorated "wadah" (cremation tower) and carried through the streets to the cremation site. Bearers shake and spin the tower to confuse spirits and ensure the soul finds its way to the afterlife. At the ceremony’s peak, the body is placed in a "lembu" (bull-shaped sarcophagus) and set aflame, symbolizing the soul’s release from the earthly realm. Ngaben is a powerful testament to Bali’s spiritual beliefs — a striking blend of reverence, artistry, and collective mourning, honoring both life and the eternal cycle of rebirth.