Denpasar (ANTARA) - Governor of Bali Wayan Koster has issued a set of instructions to enter the Agung Besakih Temple in Karangasem Regency during the Ida Bhatara Turun Kabeh ritual ceremony.

The temple's visitors are urged to abide by the stipulated instructions during the main ceremony that will last for 21 days from April 5 to April 26, 2023.

"Visitors must enter through Bentar Temple in the Manik Mas area in accordance with the instructions. As for visitors boarding buses or trucks, we will provide electric buses from the parking area Kedungdung to Manik Mas and vice versa," Koster noted as cited in a government press broadcast in Denpasar, Monday.

Those keen on praying at the Agung Besakih Temple will be directed to walk from the parking area to Bencingah, the temple's front area.

Koster remarked that special transportation will also be provided for sulinggih (priests), elders, pregnant women, and women with infants.

Apart from ritual purposes, no one will be permitted to enter during the ceremony.

In addition, the ceremony committees necessitate visitors to bring their own trash bags, maintain environmental cleanliness, and comply with the temple's stipulated provisions.

Through a circular letter, the governor has also highlighted several restrictions that will be implemented in order to preserve the temple's beauty and sanctity.

The restrictions include prohibition on littering and using single-use plastics. Traders are also banned from selling their products outside the designated area.

Furthermore, visitors are urged to bring back all their offerings so as not to litter the temple.

The Bali Provincial Government has provided several supporting facilities in the Agung Besakih Temple area, such as by providing wantilan, a designated hall for visitors to rest while they wait for people in the queue to enter the temple in the Manik Mas and Bencingah area.

Moreover, the government has provided a trading area, information center, health post, security post, dressing rooms, and also a breastfeeding room.

Additional facilities have also been prepared, such as parking lots as well as toilets, including those designed for the disabled.

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Translator: Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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