The Teeth-filing Ceremony, or what is usually referred to as Potong Gigi, Mepandes, Metatah, or Mesangih in Indonesian or Balinese language, is a ceremony to find true human nature, to release from the shadow of Sad Ripu. There are six types of enemies that exist among humans. These are:
- Kama - Lust/Negative desire
- Lobha - Greed
- Krodha - Anger
- Mada - Intoxication
- Moha - Confusion /Foolishness
- Matsarya - Jealously
This Ceremony also interpreted as payment of debts by parents to their children.
The tooth-filing ceremony is part of the Yadnya ceremony in Bali, which is carried out by children who are teenagers or adults. With the characteristics of the child: menstruation for women and an enlarged voice for men.
The implementation of this ceremony is sacred and occurs on certain days chosen by Hindu priests. The invitees who come are also limited to families.
In the vicinity of the ceremony, there are only priests as leaders of religious ceremonies, sangging who will sharpen teeth, and their parents.
While lying down, the child will show his teeth. The officer is ready to file the upper six teeth. Teeth will be filed neatly and evenly. After that, it was rinsed and thrown into a wrapped young coconut.
Next is the prayer procession, grateful for the success of this ceremony.
The Balinese worship ritual before and after Teeth-filing Ceremony.
Bali has a lot of ancestral cultural heritage that still exists in the community. And the Balinese carry out this tradition with sincerity and maintain it so that it is not lost due to the influence of the modern world.