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Foreign tourists have started to take an interest in the Priest bells, better known as spiritual bells, produced by a 55-year old craftsman Nengah Patra from Banjar Budaga, Semarapura Kauh in Klungkung. The bells are even being marketed about abroad in places such as Japan, US, Germany, Australia, Great Britain, and Austria. As well as the spiritual bells, Patra also produce wonderful other bells, silver bells, brass bells, antique bells and a combination of several kinds of bells.

Even though he has been working as a craftsman for a long time, he actually has a lack of knowledge about the function of the respective products. As a Hindu, Nengah Patra only knows that the spiritual bells are used by priests as a tool during prayer in a religious or traditional ceremony.

When questioned by a foreign tourist on this matter, Patra answered that the spiritual bells are usually utilized by God's creatures to bring themselves closer to God.

“Everybody just has their own way to bring themselves closer to God, � Patra stresses. Patra has launched various kinds of spiritual bells, of which the sticks are made of wood. Parts of the sticks are in the shape of a lotus and of a pile of circles, a form of bajra bell.

In the meantime, dream bells are in the shape of balls made of metal, that have usually has been made so as to be flexible in the palm of the hand. Other functions have been also been attached to the metal ball as accessories, attached on the right side as on the belly of a pregnant woman. In this function the bell might have been connected to the fetus in the belly.

In his business service, Patra is very customer-oriented. Those guests eager to gain a quality product, are also willing to pay for it and Patra with his 30 members of staff is prepared to meet the consumers’ wishes. (daniel fajrie)