Every 210 days, in alignment with the Balinese Pawukon calendar, the island of Bali comes alive with the sounds of gamelan music and the spirit of love as its people celebrate Tumpek Krulut.
This year, Tumpek Krulut falls on Saturday, June 7, 2025, a day deeply rooted in the Balinese philosophy of harmony, compassion, and reverence for the arts.
Often described as Bali’s own version of a Day of Love, Tumpek Krulut is not merely a cultural celebration, it is a profound spiritual observance that honors the importance of universal love (tresna asih) and the central role of art and music in everyday life.
The Meaning Behind Tumpek Krulut
The term Krulut is derived from the Old Javanese word lulut, meaning affection, love, or tenderness. The day is dedicated to Dewa Iswara, the divine aspect of Ida Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa who governs beauty and artistic expression.
At its core, Tumpek Krulut emphasizes the cultivation of taksu, a spiritual charisma or inner energy believed to empower artists, musicians, performers, and even everyday individuals. In Balinese culture, taksu is considered a blessing that breathes life and depth into creative works and enables harmonious interactions in the community.
Tumpek Krulut this reminds the Balinese people to foster compassion, beauty, and grace, not only through the arts but in their relationships with others and with the natural world.
Rituals and Cultural Traditions
Niskala (Spiritual) Observances
One of the most significant aspects of Tumpek Krulut is the purification and honoring of gamelan instruments, the iconic Balinese musical ensembles of bronze percussion and bamboo flutes that accompany rituals, dances, and community gatherings.
On this day, gamelan sets in temples, community halls (banjar), and private homes are cleansed with holy water, adorned with flowers, and presented with special offerings known as banten. These typically include:
- Pejati (a complete offering symbolizing sincerity)
- Tipat sirikan (a type of woven rice cake symbolizing protection)
- Segehan panca warna (colored rice offerings representing cosmic balance)
The instruments are treated as sacred beings, not mere objects, as they are believed to possess spiritual energy that connects performers and listeners to the divine.
Sekala (Worldly) Celebrations
Beyond rituals, Tumpek Krulut is also a vibrant celebration of the arts:
- Communities organize gamelan performances and traditional dance presentations to express gratitude for the beauty of life and the blessings of creativity.
- Children and young artists undergoing training in gamelan and dance often participate in a special ceremony called mewinten, a ritual purification and blessing to prepare them for deeper artistic learning.
- In modern times, Tumpek Krulut is embraced as a day to strengthen bonds of love and compassion through acts of social kindness. Many communities hold blood drives, visit orphanages, and engage in charity work to embody the spirit of tresna asih (universal love).
Tumpek Krulut in Contemporary Bali
Recognizing the enduring relevance of Tumpek Krulut, the Provincial Government of Bali formalized its observance through Governor’s Instruction No. 08 of 2023, designating it as Rahina Tresna Asih, the official Day of Universal Love in Bali.
This initiative is aligned with the broader vision of Sad Kerthi, a set of six Balinese values aimed at preserving the sanctity of nature, humanity, and culture as part of the New Era of Bali (Bali Era Baru).
Through this modern lens, Tumpek Krulut is promoted not only as a religious and artistic occasion but as a civic opportunity to nurture love, empathy, and respect across all levels of society, bridging traditional values with contemporary community life.
Reflections on Love, Harmony, and the Arts
Tumpek Krulut carries a timeless message: love and harmony are essential to both spiritual fulfillment and social well-being.
In honoring the arts, the universal language of human expression, the Balinese reaffirm their belief that beauty, compassion, and inner balance are central to a meaningful life.
As the world grows more fast-paced and complex, Tumpek Krulut offers a moment to pause and reflect on what truly matters:
- the love we share with others,
- the creativity we cultivate,
- the beauty we honor in the world, and
- the harmony we strive to maintain, within ourselves and with the universe.
Tumpek Krulut: Where Tradition Informs Everyday Life
At Desa Oculus, the values behind Tumpek Krulut, love, harmony, and the creative essence are deeply woven into our way of life. Without the need for formal ritual, these ideals find quiet expression through architecture, textures, sounds, and human connection. A living dialogue between past and present, where sacred wisdom continues to inspire modern consciousness.
