The intensity of the people who underwent the Sudhi Wadani ceremony or converted to Hinduism
in the Denpasar City area was relatively high in the past year. This was said by the Chairman of the Denpasar City PHDI, Nyoman Kenak who was interviewed on Sunday (23/10). Within three to four days, he authorized five to six Sudhi Widani ceremonies. If we average it, almost every day there is a Sudhi Wadani ceremony in our area in Denpasar," he said.
Those who undergo Sudhi Wadani are dominated by marriage interests. Others, however, have voluntarily embraced Hinduism, which several foreign nationals participated in.
"Perhaps from the 15 ceremonies, there was one foreigner who underwent Sudhi Widani. One of them was Hindu and then his partner converted to Hinduism, there was also the second one who was not Hindu but converted to Hinduism," he explained.
There are also Hindus who have left Hinduism but have reverted to Hinduism for several reasons. Such as pain, or in Hindu belief called insertion. According to Kenak, this condition generally occurs because a person's beliefs are branched in embracing a religion. What are the conditions for doing Sudhi Wadani? Kenak said, administratively and ceremoniously, there are no difficult conditions. However, one must have the determination to embrace Hinduism. Now Sudhi Widani, not long after that, changed religion again.
Another thing, people who undergo Sudhi Widani must understand philosophy, ethics, and ceremonies in Hinduism. He emphasized that Hinduism is flexible and does not burden the people.
The Population of Bali Province According to Religion Adhered to the 2010 Population Census Results
The population of Bali Province by Religion Based on 2010 Population Census
Regency/City Religion/Religion
Regency Islam Catholic Protestant Hindu Buddhism Confucian Others Unanswered Unasked Number
Municipality Moslem Catholic Protestant Hindu Buddhist Confucian Others Missed Not Stated Total
Jembrana 69 608 2 890 1 865 186 319 756 2 0 0 198 261 638
Tabanan 26 070 2 691 1 195 389 125 1 533 14 2 0 283 420 913
Badung 96 166 18 396 10 234 414 863 2 475 32 125 1 1 040 543 332
Gianyar 18 834 1 692 667 447 225 799 28 41 0 491 469 777
Klungkung 7 794 372 138 161 589 430 0 0 0 220 170 543
Bangli 2 185 197 56 212 325 113 1 0 0 476 215 353
Karangasem 16 221 398 197 379 113 334 1 4 0 219 396 487
Buleleng 57 467 3 132 916 557 532 3 127 97 15 0 1 839 624 125
Denpasar 225 899 34 686 16 129 499 192 11 589 252 95 0 747 788 589
Bali 520 244 64 454 31 397 3 247 283 21 156 427 282 1 5 513 3 890 757
Before discussing it more deeply, we can dissect the etymological meaning of Sudhi Wadani. Sudhi Wadani comes from Sanskrit, namely sudden which is pronounced as such which means clean, holy, purified, or purification. It is a cleansing ceremony before someone embraces Hinduism. This ceremony was officially recognized in the Decision of the Unity Seminar on Interpretation of Aspects of Hinduism on 18-20 February 1981. Meanwhile, Wadani comes from the word vada which means a statement, a conversation that is carried out properly and appropriately. In another concept, this wadi is also associated with Wedani which means the inauguration ceremony to embrace the teachings of Wedha. So Sudhi Wadani can be interpreted as a statement to become a follower of the sacred teachings of Wed. People who will undergo the Sudhi Wadani ceremony must prepare various things, ranging from mental stability to administrative requirements. For administrative requirements, a person must make a statement of decision to become a Hindu without coercion and pressure, make a letter of application to Parisada Hindu Dharma Indonesia (PHDI), attach a photo and ID card, and present witnesses.
Then, the PHDI will choose a clergyman who in this case is the Pinandita to lead the ceremony, prepare and choose the place for the ceremony. Judging from the rituals carried out, broadly speaking, this ceremony focuses on the cleansing ritual which is carried out employing Byakala and Prayascita and then Ayaban.
In the implementation of the Byakala, someone will enter the courtyard of the holy place in this case the temple, and be invited to pray. Then for Prayascita, they will be cleaned and purified from dirt. Then for Ayaban, the person will be invited to thank Hyang Widhi (the name of God in Hinduism).
When it is done, the leader of the ceremony will read a statement that has been written by the person who performed Sudhi Wadani, while also imitating it. After that, the witnesses signed the agreement.