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Blessing the new IALF Bali premises IALF Bali is moving to new, larger premises in Sesetan, Denpasar and in connection with this a melaspas (blessing) ceremony was conducted for the new building on Wednesday 23rd February. The main purpose of the ceremony was to cleanse as well sanctify the building prior to its use for business purposes.

The day for conducting the ceremony was advised by Ida Peranda (High Priest) Geria Taman in Sanur, who also performed the ceremony. According to the Balinese calendar, the day was locally known as Manis Anggarkasih Julungwangi, coinciding with the full moon of the ninth month of the calendar. This made it an auspicious day on which to hold such a ceremony.

The ceremony was attended by IALF Bali members of staff and witnessed by representatives and officials from the local community. Accompanied by the gamelan orchestra of Banjar Lantang Bejuh, Sesetan, the ceremony began at 10.00 am and concluded at 2 pm. As part of the blessing, holy water was taken from three village temples in Sesetan the day before and sprinkled around the entire building at the end of the ceremony. The final part of the ceremony was also marked by a proccession which symbolically drove away evil influences: staff can now prepare to move in to the new premises.

The official opening of the new premises of IALF Bali will take place in July.

Indonesia Australia Language Foundation IALF Language Centres in Indonesia:
Jakarta Jalan H.R. Rasuna Said Kav. C-6 Jakarta 12940 Indonesia Tel. (62-21) 521-3350 Fax (62-21) 521-3349 ialfjkt@ialf.edu	Surabaya Jalan Sumatera No. 49 Surabaya 60281 East Java Tel. (62-31) 502-6400 Fax (62-31) 502-6408 ialfsby@ialf.edu	Bali Jalan Raya Sesetan 190 Denpasar Bali 80223 Tel. (62-361) 225-243 Fax (62-361) 263-509 ialfbali@ialf.edu