Sabuh Mas

Sabuh Mas is a Balinese holiday set aside for the worship of Mahadeva, where they ask for blessings of various precious metals, jewellery and for wealth and occurs every 210 days.

It is interesting to note the derivation of the name’s meaning; Sabuh means ‘belt’, while Mas translates to ‘gold’ in the local language. As such, the direct meaning of this holiday is ‘gold belt’.

Locals honour the significance of this day by making various offerings to a deposit box or by presenting their jewellery box to a temple in honour of the day’s celebrations.

The aim of doing this is to show appreciation to Mahadewa for one’s property and earthly possessions. It is all about showing gratitude for clothing, jewellery, home, cash, gold and silver. It is also a reminder of the need to be prudent when spending money.

This mantra is derived from the belief of Sabuh Mas, which stipulates that cloth, gold and other possessions are the fourth most important thing in human life. These activities are followed by the local people asking for divine guidance in acquiring their wealth and property.

This sacred day is observed every 210 days and is part and parcel of the Saraswati celebrations. Various rituals are held at different temples across Bali, and visitors can be part of Sabuh Mas by respecting the locals’ religion and adhering to religious ethics when visiting the temples. This includes wearing appropriate attire, such as a sarong to cover your legs and ensuring tops cover shoulders and midriffs.