In Reply to: When is the Melasti ceremony held? posted by ccoast girl on Thursday, 13. April 2006 at 13:06 Bali Time:
a cleansing ceremony held once a year, three days before Nyepi.It is an important ceremony to purify the temple before the Balinese New Year (Hari Nyepi). During upacara Melasti the processions of different Banjar (village organisations), accompanied by music from gongs, wind their way to the sea or holy springs for the symbolic cleansing of the elaborately carved statues from the temple altars where the Gods normally reside.
The statues (representing the Gods) from the temples are carried to the sea or to holy springs. Everyone prays and is sprinkled with holy water by the priests to purify them before hari Nyepi. Therefore you will find hundreds of Melasti ceremonies going on all over Bali a couple of days before Nyepi each year. Look out for that one next year!