‘Bade’: The meaningful medium in Palebon/Ngaben Ceremony

Palebon/Ngaben holds deep meaning for the Balinese as a symbol of the purification of the soul of the deceased. In Balinese tradition, several elements must be prepared for the Palebon ceremony, one of which is depicted in this picture. It is called a 'Bade', a large and tall structure specially designed to carry the body for cremation at the cemetery. 'Bade' comes in different sizes; the taller and bigger the Bade, the higher the caste of the deceased. The 'Bade' in this picture was dedicated to Tjokorda Bagus Santaka, one of the traditional figures from Ubud.