Taro farmers hold Mendak Toya ceremony during dry spell

Desa Taro — Farmers from Subak Patas and Subak Belong held the Mendak Toya ceremony at Pura Dugul, also known as Pura Ulun Suwi, on October 4, 2026, as dry conditions reduced irrigation supplies in Taro.

Why it matters: Farmers in Banjar Patas and Banjar Belong faced reduced irrigation supplies and dry, cracked rice fields, while light rain followed the ceremony on October 4.

The ceremony was a traditional spiritual prayer for continued irrigation flows, rain and the protection of rice crops, according to Bali Post. The report said fields in Banjar Patas and Banjar Belong had dried and developed cracks after a prolonged dry spell.

Rain fell in Taro on the afternoon of October 4 after the ceremony, although Bali Post described it as light. Residents welcomed the rainfall while hoping for more consistent precipitation to restore irrigation supplies and support the rice crop through harvest.

I Ketut Munjuk, head of Subak Patas, told Bali Post that Mendak Toya was a long-standing tradition and an expression of devotion connected with maintaining balance in nature. The report attributed the ceremony’s purpose to the local subak communities.

The event took place in an agricultural area of Gianyar where rice farmers depend on reliable water supplies. The ceremony combined customary worship with a response to immediate concerns over dry fields and insufficient irrigation.

Sources

• Bali Post
• Tribun Bali