Bali Marks 119 Years of Puputan Badung: Historic Stand Against Colonialism

KBRN, Denpasar: The 119th anniversary of Puputan Badung in Denpasar, Bali, on Saturday, September 20, 2025, has become a significant moment for the city’s post-disaster recovery, said Denpasar Deputy Mayor I Kadek Agus Arya Wibawa.

"The Puputan Badung that we commemorate today is based on the heroic event of the Balinese people, especially from the Badung Kingdom, who fought to their last breath, or puputan, against Dutch colonizers," said Arya Wibawa during the commemoration ceremony at Puputan Badung Field in Denpasar, as quoted by antaranews.com.

Arya Wibawa noted that the event on September 20, 1906, showed the world how the Balinese people, led by their king I Gusti Ngurah Made Agung, fought with unwavering dedication and idealism to protect their homeland.

He emphasized that this spirit reflects a great nation that never forgets the history of its ancestors.

The Deputy Mayor urged the public to embrace the heroic values of the fighters and apply them in their daily lives, serving as an inspiration for the younger generation to contribute to national development.

He also highlighted a powerful philosophy from the battle, bisama Mati Tan Tumut Pejah, which means "to die on the battlefield, but the struggle never dies."

This principle became the foundation for the Denpasar City Administration's motto, Pura Dhipa Bara Bhavana, which emphasizes the government's duty to achieve public prosperity.

With Denpasar currently facing challenges from recent flooding, Arya Wibawa emphasized that the spirit of Puputan Badung, with its bisama Mati Tan Tumut Pejah philosophy, provides the perfect momentum for the city to move forward and recover from the disaster.

Representing Denpasar’s royal families (Puri), A.A. Ngurah Ketut Parwa reminded attendees not to forget their history. “Our kings and heroes defended their land to the last drop of blood. That is the essence of puputan,” he said. “Their spirit should inspire and guide us as we continue to shape our independence.”

The ceremony culminated in a symbolic act: Deputy Mayor Arya Wibawa and Puri representatives plunged a sacred keris (dagger) into the ground, marking the peak of the commemoration.

This year’s event, held solemnly at Puputan Badung I Gusti Ngurah Made Agung Field, combined a ceremonial gathering with a cultural performance titled Mageh Ing Keraton.

The program opened with a reading of Puputan Badung’s historical background, recounting the fierce resistance against Dutch colonialism in 1906, triggered by opposition to the Tawan Karang policy, a traditional Balinese maritime law that allowed local rulers to claim shipwrecked vessels and their cargo.

The Dutch viewed this practice as piracy, leading to escalating tensions and ultimately, military confrontation.

The heroic narrative was dramatized in a grand theatrical production, concluding with the ceremonial placement of the Puputan Badung keris. ***