The Segara Kerthi ritual was carried out to seek blessings from the Almighty for a physically and spiritually clean sea as a source of water.
Getting started at 3 p.m. local time (UTC +8) and was led by four Hindu priests, the Segara Kerthi ritual was followed by Tumpek Uye, a ritual of veneration of animals as part of which one thousand hatchlings, one thousand birds, and five turtles were set free.
Mantra recitation, collective prayer, and six sacred Balinese dances were also performed during the ritual.
Through the Segara Kerthi, the global community can see how the environmental awareness has been ingrained in the Indonesian culture. It also shows Indonesia's care for the issues of climate change, and respect for nature and other living creatures.
Regarding this eight-day World Water Forum, Public Works and Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono opined that being a host of this important event has shown a diplomatic victory for Indonesia.
Hadimuljono, who serves as the Chief Operating Officer of the forum's National Organizing Committee, argued that it is Indonesia's diplomatic victory on the international stage for water management where 11 heads of state would participate in the summit.
"After the opening ceremony, the President will preside over the summit," he told journalists after attending the Segara Kerthi ritual on Saturday.
During this global water forum which is held every three years, the participating heads of state, ministers, and representatives of international organizations will discuss crucial issues related to water, such as water conservation, clean water and sanitation, food and energy security, and mitigation of natural disasters.
In addition to the WWF Summit's main agenda, Indonesia's President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and Elon Musk, the founder of aerospace company SpaceX, have been scheduled to inaugurate the broadband services of the company's satellite constellation Starlink in Bali.
As Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said earlier that on Sunday, President Jokowi and Elon Musk would launch Starlink, which aims to facilitate access to Internet services in Indonesia's remote areas.
Also on Sunday, President Jokowi started his agenda for the forum by attending a gala dinner with several heads of state, and delegates from 48 representative countries and international organizations at Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park (GWK) in Badung District.
Related news: Minister hopes global forum in Bali yields water management solutions
Related news: World Water Forum: 2,500 delegates partaking in water purification ritual
Reporter: Yoanita Hastryka Djohan
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2024
