Tumpek Landep is a Balinese festival that is held to celebrate divine inspiration as a way to honour the god of taksu.

The name of the festival is derived from two words: tumpek and landep. Tumpek translates to ‘nearby’ in the local dialect, while the latter means ‘sharp’. This manifests itself in the festival where offerings are made for objects that are made of metal.

Tumpek Landep was originally a ceremony to pay homage to items of ancestral heritage such as daggers and spears. However, over time the meaning of this ceremony has somewhat changed and locals bless all items made of metal including cars, motorcycles, computers and even refrigerators.

One of the fundamental rituals carried out during Tumpek Landep is the act of cleansing to ensure that devotees are pure to partake of the celebrations. This cleansing is carried out in honour of different ancestral spirits and is also a way to pay homage to the departed.

The celebrations are marked at various temples across the island. Families with dedicated shrines at their homes can also make offerings there. This is done to invoke prosperity and goodwill from the god Shiva Pasupati. Local artists engage in this festival as a way to ask for inspiration that will make their art relevant to society.

At the core of Tumpek Landep is the recognition of the role inspiration plays as pertains to divinity. Visitors in Bali will be awed by the various ceremonial acts that the locals observe as a way to commemorate this festival.