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Firemen
They carried
the tower and burned it, wearing special clothing, to denote their function
in burning and safety.
Remarkably, several men were smoking
cigarettes while pouring gasoline into the ignition torches.
Another "Murkur"
ceremony occurs forty-two days after the cremation and is designed to help
the travelling soul to attain its highest goal. It is complicated and similar
to cremation, with a tall slender tower decorated in white and gold, orchestras,
actors, banquets of turtle and roast pig, and offerings. Another trip is
made to the ocean carrying the burned effigies of the deceased in highly
decorated urns made of coconut shell, carried on silver platters placed
on gold and white biers.
Some
of the text for these pages were taken from The
Islands of Bali by Miquel Covarrubias.
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