RRI.CO.ID, South Lampung – The mass Ngaben ceremony in Balinuraga Village, Way Panji Subdistrict, reflects the strong spirit of mutual cooperation among the Hindu community in South Lampung, Lampung Province. The ceremony, held on Friday, August 5, 2026, demonstrated that close collaboration between the customary community and the regional administration not only preserves ancestral traditions, but also provides an important foundation for developing sustainable tourism.

Mass ngaben is a collective Hindu Balinese ceremony involving the purification of the soul and the cremation of the deceased (pitra yadnya). It is carried out jointly by numerous families or members of a village or customary community.

South Lampung Regent, Radityo Egi Pratama, said the regional administration was targeting Balinuraga Village to become a cultural tourism village by 2027, adopting a management concept inspired by Penglipuran Village in Bali.

“If we agree, God willing, in 2027 I will turn Balinuraga into a tourism village modeled on Penglipuran Village in Bali. There is one condition, which is that the community must remain united in maintaining cleanliness, security, beauty, and cultural preservation,” he said in Balinuraga on Friday, August 7, 2026.

He conveyed the commitment while attending the mass Ngaben ceremony, which was attended by thousands of people. During the traditional procession, the South Lampung regent received a customary honor by being carried on a bade standing approximately 24 meters tall, symbolizing the community’s respect for its regional leader.

Bade is a tiered tower resembling a temple used to carry the deceased in Balinese Hindu funeral traditions, particularly during Ngaben ceremonies.

He said the cultural preservation efforts by the people of Balinuraga provided a strong foundation for developing culture-based tourism. This initiative is expected to improve community welfare while strengthening the region’s identity.

According to him, the community’s mutual cooperation, respect for customs, and commitment to preserving heritage serve as key attractions. These cultural values can be developed into a leading tourism destination in South Lampung.

To support the plan, the regional administration will improve infrastructure leading to the village, organize the surrounding environment, and strengthen the tourism ecosystem.

“If Balinuraga becomes a tourism village, we will improve access roads and enhance the appearance of the environment. However, the administration cannot work alone. This must become a joint movement involving the entire community,” he said, as quoted by Antara.

He stressed that cultural preservation was not merely a source of pride for the people of Balinuraga. The tradition was also a valuable regional asset with strategic importance for supporting the tourism sector and safeguarding cultural heritage for future generations.

Meanwhile, Chairperson of the bade construction committee, Wayan Mantra, said carrying the South Lampung regent on the bade represented the highest form of respect from the customary community. The honor was given to a regional leader considered committed to preserving local culture.

“This is a great honor for us. We carried the regent and his entourage on the bade as a symbol of respect from the customary community, and it is also a source of pride for the people of Balinuraga Village,” he said.

This year’s mass Ngaben ceremony in Balinuraga was not only a religious observance for Hindus. It also served as a platform for strengthening synergy between the regional administration and the customary community in preserving cultural heritage as part of sustainable tourism development. ***