Udayana Commander Welcomed With Tepung Tawar in Mangupura

Mangupura — Mayjen TNI Made Putra Widiastawa, the newly appointed commander of Kodam IX/Udayana, arrived in Bali on Tuesday, Oct. 20, and was welcomed at the Base Ops of I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport with the tepung tawar tradition.

The ceremony formed part of the reception for the new leadership of Kodam IX/Udayana. The welcome was led by Brigjen TNI Taufiq Hanafi, deputy commander of Kodam IX/Udayana. Putra Widiastawa was accompanied by Ny. Desak Putra Widiastawa, chairwoman of Persit Kartika Chandra Kirana Regional IX/Udayana.

The reception also included the presentation of a Balinese udeng, or destar, by Ida I Dewa Agung Hadisaputra, commander of Korem 163/Wira Satya. The ceremony’s organizers described the headcloth as more than an item of traditional dress: Its symbolism is linked to ngiket manah, the practice of focusing the mind and exercising self-control while carrying out responsibility.

A local welcome for Bali’s new military commander

The tepung tawar ritual expresses respect, gratitude and prayers for safety, smoothness in carrying out official duties, and divine protection. It also reflects the use of Balinese cultural values in a formal military reception.

Putra Widiastawa succeeds Mayjen TNI Piek Budyakto as commander of Kodam IX/Udayana. Piek Budyakto was assigned as commander of Kodam V/Brawijaya. The leadership change was part of a series of commander rotations announced at Army Headquarters in Jakarta on Friday, Oct. 16.

For residents and visitors, the event offered a visible example of how official ceremonies in Bali incorporate local customs. The reception took place at the airport’s military operations base rather than in a public tourist venue, and the reported focus was ceremonial rather than a change to airport operations or visitor rules.

Sources

• BALIPOST.com — Balinese news outlet
• BaliNews — Indonesian regional news outlet
• denpost.id