Potong gigi

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Indonesian traditional ritual in Bali Potong.jpg
Indonesian traditional ritual in Bali

Potong gigi, also known as mesangih or mepandes, [1] is a form of ritual body modification of adolescents, typically teenagers, in parts of Bali that involves the filing of the canine teeth. [2] Traditional Balinese belief states that "protruding canines represent the animal-like nature of human beings"; [3] the purpose of the ritual is to sever ties with these animal instincts and show others that the individual is old enough to marry. [4] Considered a generational ritual, parents of adolescents performing it consider it their "final duty" in being a parent before their child becomes an adult. [4] Reasons adolescents take part in the ceremony are mixed, as they must take into consideration the impacts of globalization with traditional Balinese ritual. [5]

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References

  1. "Asia in Pictures". The Wall Street Journal. 2011-09-07. Retrieved 2019-03-07.
  2. "Potong Gigi, the symbolic transition from teenager to adult". Teak Bali. 2017-05-19. Retrieved 2019-02-13.
  3. Gottowik, Volker (2010). "Transnational, translocal, transcultural: some remarks on the relations between Hindu-Balinese and ethnic Chinese in Bali". Journal of Social Issues in Southeast Asia. 25 (2): 178–212. doi:10.1355/sj25-2b. S2CID   145106478.
  4. 1 2 VICE Asia (2018-10-30), Grinding Teeth: The Wild Indonesian Coming Of Age Ritual , retrieved 2019-02-13
  5. Nyoman Wiranti, Ni (June 2012). "How Balinese adolescents consider the importance of ritual in maintaining their social identity: Indigenous psychology approach". International Journal of Psychology. 47: 230. doi: 10.1080/00207594.2012.709095 .