In Reply to: TEETH FILE posted by Sue on Sunday, 31. December 2000 at 11:28 Bali Time:
It is does NOT need to be a particularly uncomfortable ceremony, and I've never heard of it being "extremely painful". (Depends a bit on the priest and how much the person himself or herself wants taken off.) In fact, people usually examine their mouth in the mirror and instruct the priest to take a little more off there, etc., for the cosmetic effect they desire. I have witnessed Balinese friend's ceremonies on more than one occasion, and they were smiling and laughing after. (It often is done much later than puberty, you see.) Also, I have Western friends who are married to Balinese men. Two of my Western friends underwent the ceremony and they also reported no big deal. I saw the video of one, and she was joking most of the way through it (except where she had her mouth open and couldn't talk!) Enough with the scare tactics. If the poster lives in Bali with her man, she knows the cultural differences.