The Sarad Pulogembal is a grand offering crafted by subak volunteers to express gratitude to the gods and goddesses for blessing Bali with flowing waters and fertile landscapes. This spectacular structure, often towering several meters high, beautifully represents the Balinese universe.
The process of making the Sarad Pulogembal is time-intensive and complex. It consists of brightly-colored rice dough figurines known as jaja. These figurines are shaped into elements of the Balinese world, including humans, animals and trees, symbolizing cosmic harmony and balance.
The jaja is prepared by kneading rice flour and warm water into a dough, which is then dyed with vibrant colors. Once ready, the figurines are fried and sun-dried to enhance their durability. They are then assembled onto a bamboo or wooden headboard in a process known as "metanding", forming a balanced and harmonious creation.
One week after Nyepi, at the beginning of the new year, the completed Sarad Pulogembal is carried in a grand procession to Pura Ulun Danu Batur, the Temple of the Crater Lake, and displayed in the temple courtyard.
Contribute to this collective offering by attaching the various jaja to help complete the Sarad Pulogembal.