When the costly and precious geringsing and pitola weaves are unavailable, luminous red cotton cepuk cloths may be substituted. Cepuk is used in sacrifices, at cremations, and above all as the protective cloth worn by Rangda dancers. The centers of weaving were formerly Kerambitan and Nusa Penida Island. Today, Tanglad on Nusa Penida is the main production center for cepuk cloths, which can be found in the bigger markets all over Bali, sold together with other sacral textiles.
Sacred hip and breast cloths with simple checkered patterns (polengan) or small, circular fabrics (wangsul, gedogan) are usually worn during rites of passage (especially the three-month birthday, the 210 day birthday and for tooth-filing ceremonies). They define the boundary between the holy and the profane, often acting to shield human beings from the impure, especially when appearing before a priest or priestess to be blessed or to be cleansed. The checkered poleng in particular is a symbol of the underworld and is associated with demons and death.
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