Still in a trance

As many as 50 Balinese children from the same school went into a trance over several days last week - showing that the Balinese's infamous ability to fall into a trance is still alive and well, despite the changes wrought by tourism and exposure to the west.

Initially 12 children fell into a trance on Monday followed by another 50 children on Wednesday. The students began crying out and performing a ritual dance - typical actions of people in such a state - at Primary School No3 in the capital, Denpasar. The students began yelling and performing a dance similar to the Calonarang dance, which had been held at rituals to mark the school's shrine renovation.

Balinese believe that when someone falls into a trance, the gods are visiting or possessing their body and, thus, this state is called kerauhan, or being visited.

The students in Denpasar had their spirits placated by Hindu priests before they were able to return to normal. The priests brought the children out of the trance on the same day they fell into this state. Community leaders made offerings at the school's shrine.

But the next day more students fell into a trance so priests and community leaders repeated the process until Thursday. Community leaders were surprised because the students went into a trance on a holy day, called Purnama (full-moon) day, in the Balinese calendar, when falling prey to stray spirits is less likely.

The Island of the Gods has long been famous for its Hindu residents who fall into trances.