Click image to zoom
Balinese Tooth-filing Ceremony In Indonesia
Balinese teenagers are wearing traditional costumes and praying during a mass tooth filing ceremony, locally known as Mepandes, at Giri Kusuma Temple in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia on July 9, 2023. Mepandes is an important ritual of passage for Balinese Hindus that marks the transition from childhood to adulthood. During the ritual, the six front teeth in the upper jaw are filed. The heart of the ritual is a symbolic act of purging an individual of the negative traits known as the Sad Ripu or six enemies: lust, greed, anger, anxiety, conceit and envy. Upon the completion of the ritual, the man or woman will be officially acknowledged as an adult, a mature individual who knows and is aware of the differences between vice and virtue. (Photo by Adriana Adie/NurPhoto)
Photo Details
| Photo ID | #10252540 |
|---|---|
| Date Taken | |
| Location | N/A |
| Photographer | Adriana Adie/NurPhoto |
| Category | Religion and Belief |
| Copyright | © 2025 NurPhoto - Adriana Adie/NurPhoto |
Related Keywords
Indonesia
religion
NurPhoto
Balinese
teenagers
traditional costumes
praying
mass tooth filing ceremony
Mepandes
Giri Kusuma Temple
Bogor
West Java
Indonesia
July 9 2023
Balinese Hindus
transition childhood adulthood
six front teeth upper jaw filed
Sad Ripu
six enemies
lust greed anger anxiety conceit envy
mature individual vice virtue
person
clothing
tradition
dance
ritual
fashion accessory
2025 NurPhoto. All rights reserved.
This image is the property of NurPhoto and is protected under international copyright laws.
Similar Photos
View All
