Bali is the spiritual heart of the Indonesian archipelago, attracting thousands of people who seek healing, transformative experience, or, simply, inner peace.
A water purification ceremony – or Melukat in Indonesian- is a must-try ritual if you want to connect with ancient traditions and cleanse your mind, soul, and body from bad energy.
But before you book the experience, let’s find out what you should expect exactly from Balinese Melukat and what are the best temples to do it (that are not just Tirta Empul temple!).
What Is the Melukat Ceremony In Bali?
Melukat, from the Indonesian word “lukat” or “purify”, is the ancient water purification ceremony embedded in Balinese culture. It is also often referred to as “soul purification” or tirthayatra in Balinese.
According to Balinese traditions, water has amazing healing and cleansing power, and the sites are often sacred homes for the Hindu God Visnu, the Preserver. Ancient Balinese traditions were even called Agama Tirta, or the religion of water.
Melukat is meant to clean our body, mind, and spirit from bad karma (past lives), negative moments in present, but also stress and traumas by washing ourselves in sacred waters.
But to be fair, the blessings and spiritual cleansing don’t just remove all the “bad” energy, but more so restore the harmony and natural balance of things in the universe.
Sacred sites like water temples, natural springs, holy water springs, and even rivers and coconut water can be used for this ritual.
Can Foreigners Do Melukat Ceremony?
Absolutely, Balinese believed that Melukat is a universal tradition, and in itself emerged from blending ancient Balinese “Gama Tirtha” (the way of holy water) and Indian Hindu knowledge.
Participating in Melukat doesn’t make you a Hindu or convert you to it, unlike baptism in Christianity.
However, you can’t just do it at home, you will need to visit a sacred place and have a Balinese priest guide you through the process.
When Should You Do Melukat Purification Ceremony
For Balinese, water purification ritual is not just a fancy ceremony; it is an important step before starting something new.
You will see local people doing spiritual cleansing before weddings (Melukat Semarabeda), graduation, coming of age, and even birthdays, or to get rid of black magic effects.
The ritual is also typically performed during Full Moon ceremony (Purnama), New Moon ceremony (Tilem), and Kajeng Kliwon – a sacred day in Balinese Hinduism when positive and negative energy collide.
In a broader sense, and why many foreigners do it, the Melukat offers a fresh start, spiritual healing, restores the harmony between “bad” and “good” in us, and can even help with bad luck, anxiety, past traumas, or emotional release.
How To Do The Balinese Water Purification Ritual?
Preparation
There is no special preparation before the Melukat ceremony.
We suggest keeping your stomach light (not overeating), avoiding drinking alcohol before the ritual, washing your body beforehand, and coming with an open mind and heart.
For women, it is important to check with the menstrual cycle, as you will not be allowed on holy grounds when you’re on your period.
If you book a private experience and have a specific purpose for the cleanse, the Balinese priest can even select the best date for it according to the Balinese calendar.
Melukat Ritual
You simply follow the instructions of the healer or priest. Depending on which priest you are with (Balian, Pemangku, Peranda, or Brahmana), the process may be different.
Some priests will start by asking your name and studying your palms, chakras, and energy. It will help them define why you need the cleanse and what effects you can expect.
Then he will say prayers and mantras to initiate the ritual and ask the Gods for permission and blessings. The whole process will be accompanied by burning incense and traditional offerings. Sometimes, you will be asked to meditate with your guide before the healing, too.
After that, you will have a few sips of holy water, and either bathe yourself in holy spring, if you are in the temple, or in coconut water.
Depending on where you decide to do the cleanse, you can also have some extra steps. For example, the Melukat purification ritual in a river can have different mini rituals for levels of purification.
After The Melukat Ceremony
You may feel refreshed, in harmony with nature and spirits, and enlightened.
If your Balinese healer did a reading before the ceremony, he will do it again to see if you managed to cleanse negative energy from your body and soul or if another ritual is needed (not mandatory, of course).
Where To Do Melukat in Bali?
Most people visit one of the oldest temples – Tirta Empul Temple, but to be fair, it is not the only place, and for some people, not the most convenient one to do it.
Tirta Empul Temple, Ubud
One of the most important temples in Bali, built in the 10th century, Tirta Empul Temple is famous for its stunning water purification ceremonies.
The carved pool and holy water springs are believed to use the water from a holy spring created by the God Indra in ancient times.
The ceremony here is sort of a shared experience, while you will be accompanied by your own guide, you will have to line up to bathe in the sacred fountains.
The experience here is also often the most expensive and rushed among all the other options, as the temple and purification pools get crowded quickly.
Pesiraman Sebatu Temple, Ubud
Here you will bathe your body and head directly in a small sacred waterfall while standing in one of the many sacred rivers of Bali.
The waterfall area is completely submerged in nature, but it is small, and you will have to get down some steps.
Mengening Temple, Ubud
Another sacred site where you can find ritual purity and do melukat Bali is Mengening Temple – a beautiful place not far from Tirta Empul Temple with ample space but fewer crowds and a serene atmosphere.
This temple also has a nice purification pool with sprouts delivering holy water over your head.
The pricing is much cheaper here, too. You can leave a donation for the priest, while sarong and traditional offerings will cost just about 40,000 IDR (4 AUD), plus an entrance fee of 30,000 IDR (3 AUD).
Gunung Kawi Sebatu Temple, Ubud
The 11th-century Balinese temple with gorgeous stone carvings, ponds, and a territory that you can visit for Melukat.
As it lies off the beaten path, very few tourists reach it, and you can have it all for yourself. Note that there are about 300 steps to get down to the temple grounds.
Sebatu Holy Spring Temple, Ubud
A hidden gem further away from Ubud, Sebatu Holy Spring Temple is a temple built next to a small sacred waterfall that Balinese use for Melukat.
The entrance fee is only 2 AUD, and the ritual is donation-based – a perfect place for couples to do a water purification ceremony together. You will probably be asked to pay a small fee for offerings, too.
Goa Giri Putri Temple, Nusa Penida
Unique cave temple in Nusa Penida, Goa Giri Putri is the best spot for melukat on the island if you haven’t had the chance to do it in Bali or simply wanted something special.
You will have to pay for entry, sarong rental, and a donation to the priest.
Some more temples and waterfalls you can enjoy Melukat in privacy:
- Tirtha Sudamala Temple, Ubud
- Saraswati Temple, Ubud
- Pura Luhur Batukaru, Tabanan
- Pura Tirta Sudhamala, Singaraja
- Sekumpul Waterfall, Singaraja
- Kereban Langit Temple, Mengwi
- Tukad Cepung Waterfall, Bangli
- Taman Beji Griya Waterfall, Ubud
- Yeh Mampeh Waterfall, Pupuan
FAQs
What Religion Is Melukat?
Melukat is a cornerstone purification ceremony in Balinese Hinduism, symbolising spiritual cleansing by holy water.
Both Balinese Hindus and people with other beliefs can perform this religious ritual before an important event or simply to purify their minds and bodies from past negative actions.
What Do You Wear To The Melukat Ritual?
During Melukat, both men and women have to wear a simple dress like a wrapped sarong around the body. You don’t have to buy a traditional Balinese outfit like Kebaya, most temples will let you rent it for 10,000-20,000 IDR (1.2 AUD)
Note that women can’t enter temples and do Melukat during menstruation.
How Much Does The Purification Ceremony Cost In Bali?
If you book a Melukat ceremony (traditional purification ritual of Bali) through one of the tour sites like TripAdvisor, you will most likely pay around 45-50 AUD per person.
Many resorts in Bali, especially in Ubud, will also offer Melukat packages to their guests, like Tanah Gajah Ubud Resort, however, such offers can be quite pricey (around 65 AUD per person).
However, if you visit a less crowded temple, you will be able to “hire” a Balinese healer or priest for a small donation to do the purification ritual.
How Much Does It Cost To Go To The Holy Water Temple In Bali?
You will have to pay 75,000 IDR (7,5 AUD) to visit the most famous Tirta Empul Water Temple, this price doesn’t include the water purification ceremony, though.
Other temples are much cheaper to visit, with entrance fees usually around 20,000 to 30,000 IDR (2-3 AUD) on average.
Final Thoughts On Melukat Bali
If you want to connect with your spirituality and leave certain things and emotional burdens in the past, participating in the Melukat ritual while visiting Bali is an amazing once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Immersing yourself in Balinese traditions and holy springs can be truly healing and rejuvenating!
