I went to Melanting Temple in West Bali for the new moon, which, according to the Balinese calendar, is a good time to pray. I did this with my family—my wife and children—so we all traveled about an hour and a half to reach the temple.
It was around 3:30 in the afternoon when we set out, under a cloudy sky with a light drizzle that made the weather pleasantly cool. Normally, the drive would take longer from the west, but I managed to make it in an hour by speeding up a bit.
Along the way, we stopped at several smaller temples before reaching Melanting Temple, known as the dwelling place of the goddess of prosperity.
It had been a long time since my last visit to this temple, even missing the recent festival that took place a few months ago. Returning now felt wonderful, and I was grateful to see this beautiful temple once again.
In Bali, Hinduism is the main religion, but local beliefs in animism—a reverence for spirits—also play a part. Melanting Temple serves as a place to honor Hindu gods and local spirits associated with prosperity and success. This is why many Balinese who work in trade or business come to pray here.
The temple features colorful shrines, mostly in shades of yellow and red. Serpent statues, symbols of prosperity in Balinese culture, can be found throughout the grounds. In one corner stands a statue of a sage believed to have built the temple, which, although undated, is thought to have been constructed around the 16th century.
We entered the inner area of the temple to pray, where a priest sat cross-legged, already leading a prayer. Facing the shrines, we sat down, while my wife placed the offering she had prepared at home. The offering was made of coconut leaves, with fruits and cakes all contained in a bamboo basket. She had been working on it since the morning.
Once the prayer concluded, we made our way out of the temple, taking a few photos of ourselves before leaving. It was a meaningful and beautiful visit, leaving us with a renewed sense of gratitude and peace.