The female headdress that tells stories and traditions

Nothing in the colorful and vibrant Balinese culture is left to chance, everything seems to be a metaphor for a story, the symbol of a belief or a tribute to nature and divinity. Thus, even the traditional female dress Payas Agung becomes the bearer of such important meanings that it is worn for important events such as marriage or other ceremonies such as filing teeth or coming of age. The traditional dress, previously used only by Balinese royalty, finds its maximum splendor in the female headdress, Gelungan, a golden crown chiseled by hand and lavishly decorated with flowers, with a height of about 40 cm (even if previously the dimensions were proportionate to the caste level of the family to which they belong) with a weight that can reach 3 o 4 kg. The shape of the structure symbolizes Mount Agung, and the golden flowers placed around it are precisely the flora and abundance of the mountain. At the back the hair is tied up and decorated with fresh red roses along with white and yellow cempaka flowers. Rings, bracelets and earrings contribute to the adornment along with a makeup that outlines the forehead, called srinata. Sumptuous fabrics outline the woman's body but the man also follows the same elegance and decorative richness.