To explore the roads in Bali either just for enjoying the great atmosphere and the beauty of Bali or a business trip, you will often slowing down by a small or either long traditional (mostly religious ceremony) parade, or even the road closure and diversions. Many ceremony has been held in Bali, small or big every day that need to has a parade such as; cremation ceremony (Ngaben), Melasti, wedding procession if all the bride and the groom is from one village, and the most are Temple festival.
To look after the traffic and squire the parade, beside Policeman there will be Bali's traditional police called PECALANG!
Besides squire the parade, those pecalang also seen to look after every religion (Hindu) ceremony in Bali. Always ensure the ceremony going safe and under control, patrolling on a Nyepi day and sometimes also do the social work as they secure the ground zero when the Bali bombing 2002, or other disaster.
When you are on the road and have to pass the traditional parade, its pretty easy to identify the pecalang. First of all you will see from the uniform. Although their dress is not to much deferent from other people in parade but the color and the design will tell you. Mostly Pecalang wearing black sarong with a cross check (black and white or black and red) outer cloth (Kampuh). Upper usually they wear white T-shirt and black vest, with the badge on front of the vest and letter PECALANG and Their village name at the back of the vest. They wear black and cross check Balinese bandanna (udeng). They armed with traditional weapon "Keris" a short windy sword.
Even though the Pecalang doesn't have a law power like the regular police does, Balinese people obey and follow what the pecalang tells. The people obey and follow them because people believe pecalang has a religious power to keep the ceremony safe and under control.
So whenever you on the way and there is pecalang to manage the traffic or the parade, I strongly suggest you to obey them to prevent unexpecting problem.
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