Based on eastern culture, kissing in public is considered taboo, but in Banjar Kaja Sesetan, Southern part of Denpasar it becomes a festival, called med-medan, that is held annually and can be seen by the public.
Every year a day after Nyepi, there two groups of teenagers, one on north side consisting of girls and the other on south side consisting of boys. The Bleganjur instrument follows both groups as they walk in ellipse form. The beat of the Bleganjur becomes faster. Then both groups have to stand (girls in north and boys in south) face to face. They then become closer and closer to each other until, suddenly, the first person in every group kisses each other. After a couple of minutes both groups will bow down and some adult people, who behave almost like referees, pour water over them and the groups will separate. The first person will be replaced by another and they will repeat again and again until all the group members have had their chance, to be the first person.
What is behind this festival? Based on the people in this banjar, the aim is to protect the village from any unexpected thing. Arya Jimbaran, banjar figure, say that one year they did not perform the festival resulting in two big pigs fighting one another to the death in the place where the festival was normally held. Nobody can separate them. Since that day, the festival is always held annually in this village. It is now famous, as many people want to see it. Only if you are a member of the Banjar Kaja Sesetan you can join the festival.
Balinese Odalan
