Why is Soma Ribek identified as Balinese food day? According to the Sundari Religion ejection, the traditional text is used as a reference for Hindu holy days. Soma Ribek is the day of worship of Sri Amerta (the manifestation of Hyang Widhi Wasa who provides prosperity in the form of food, such as rice and others. Laymen usually refer to Soma Ribek as the Piodalan day (birth anniversary) of rice as the main food source.
Therefore, when Soma Ribek, Balinese Hindus will make offerings in places that have a close relationship with rice, such as granaries or Jineng (rice storage areas) and pulu (rice storage areas). The offerings are usually in the form of special offerings containing nyah nyah Geti-Geti, Gringsing, Raka-Raka (fruits), golden bananas, and fragrant flowers. In Balinese Hindu society, as is usually the case with people in the archipelago, rice or rice does have a special meaning. The proof, many areas in the archipelago have folklore about the origin of rice or rice. The people of the archipelago see rice or rice as a symbol of prosperity.
On Soma Ribek's day, Balinese Hindus are made aware of how important food is in life. Without food, humans cannot live and live their lives. Therefore, humans deserve to be grateful and give thanks before the Creator for the gift of abundant food.
The taboo on pounding rice and selling rice and rice is written in the Sundarigama lontar which has traditionally been a reference for the implementation of Hindu holidays in Bali. Balinese farmers who still adhere to traditions based on texts will usually stop all farming activities in the fields on Soma Ribek Day. They concentrate on worshiping Sang Hyang Sri Amertha, the manifestation of God as the giver of prosperity, all kinds of food.
The author of the book Rerahinan Hari Raya Hindu, Wayan Budha Gautama said that there are three main activities that are forbidden on Soma Ribek's day, namely planting rice and picking fruits, pounding rice and grinding grain, and selling agricultural products including not selling rice. "If these things are violated, humanity will be cursed by Batari Sri and will always have difficulties in the food sector," wrote Buddha Gautama.
Abstinence from pounding rice and selling rice and rice is a way for Balinese people to respect and glorify Batari Sri who has bestowed food for mankind. In Balinese tradition, the usual way to honor or glorify is by way of Brata (abstinence). Just look at the Brata or taboo on reading and writing on Saraswati day to glorify Sang Hyang Aji Saraswati who gave the gift of science to mankind. Waranugraha in the form of Amertha (food) and agricultural fertility.
This aspect of the food celebration is celebrated by stopping agricultural activities for a day, such as pounding rice, grinding rice, and buying and selling rice and rice is prohibited.
Today agricultural equipment, such as Tenggala, hoe, Lampit, and others are purified with offerings and prayers and Widhi Widana is centered on praying in pulu, barns, or rice and rice storage places.
According to Sundari Gama's literature, on the day of Soma Ribek Sanghyang Tri Murti Amertha, he did yoga, with the pulu/barn (rice bowl and rice bowl) as the place. On Soma Ribek's day, it is recommended that people express their gratitude for the existence of food. From the results of reflection, surely Soma Ribek's holy day has been determined by the Balinese Ancestors based on noble thoughts and considerations as a form of their gratitude for the prosperity they receive from their crops. They are mostly farmers. Of course, their lives are very dependent on the harvest where rice is their main crop. As a form of gratitude, they offered Upakara to Hyang Widhi, expressing their devotion through Soma Ribek's holy day, which is believed to be the day of Sang Hyang Tri Murti's yoga. This ritual later became a hereditary tradition until now we Balinese still continue to carry out Soma Ribek's Rahinan. Soma Ribek is a holiday network that is closely related to Saraswati. So what does science have to do with prosperity? Knowledge is a source of wealth. Without the knowledge we will be stupid, from ignorance we will be miserable. On the other hand, if we are equipped with virtuous and wise knowledge, we become intelligent and intelligent, we can process and mix things into useful things for ourselves and others. No different from farmers, without being equipped with sufficient knowledge, they will not produce maximum harvests. Therefore, it started from the day of worshiping Saraswati, Balinese Hindus, then carried out self-purification to then be grateful for the prosperity they received from Hyang Widhi. Rituals and Upakaras The rituals offered are nyah nyah, Grinsing, Geti-Geti, banana mas, and fragrances, complemented by Canang, incense, and Tirtha, as a sign of gratitude for the Wara Nugraha in the form of Amerta (food). We ask that Hyang Widhi always give fertility to the earth and prosperity to all creatures. On this day Hindu Dharma people abstain from pounding rice and the like and do not sell rice.