Nagasepaha’s Saab Mute Craft Preserves Bali’s Cultural Heritage
- 01 Okt 2026 11:32 WIB
- Voice of Indonesia
Poin Utama
- Nagasepaha artisans continue producing saab mute, a traditional Balinese craft used in Hindu ceremonies and local livelihoods.
- The village government is developing the craft as a village icon and intangible cultural heritage while expanding its modern uses.
RRI.CO.ID, Buleleng - The traditional saab mute craft of Nagasepaha Village in Buleleng Regency, Bali, continues to sustain local livelihoods and preserve indigenous heritage despite generational shifts and rising material costs.
Handcrafted from Palmyra palm leaves (ental), velvet fabric, and intricate beadwork (mute), the traditional covers serve essential roles in Balinese Hindu rituals while generating supplementary income for village households.
Nagasepaha Village Head I Wayan Sumeken highlighted that local authorities are actively pushing to establish the craft as an official Village Icon and an Intangible Cultural Heritage asset.
"This is our icon. We want saab mute to become a symbol of Nagasepaha Village and continue its development as an intangible cultural heritage," Sumeken said in Buleleng on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, as quoted by Infopublik.id.
While the craft was practiced by nearly every local woman in the 1990s, the number of active artisans declined in the 2000s as younger generations pursued higher education and broader career paths.
Nevertheless, home-based artisans continue to maintain the trade, producing two to three pieces daily with prices ranging from IDR 25,000 (USD 1.40) to hundreds of thousands of rupiah depending on motif complexity.
To ensure long-term viability, the Nagasepaha Village Administration is collaborating with regional agencies and universities to provide material assistance, business mentoring, and design innovation workshops, expanding the product line to include home decor and wall hangings alongside traditional ceremonial uses. ***
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