AMLAPURA ~ Thousands of Hindu faithful have begun flocking to Bali’s holiest Besakih Temple in Karangasem to help prepare for a 10-yearly ceremony set to begin on March 25, an official said.

Besakih village chief Wayan Gunatra said hundreds of people had begun arriving daily at the sacred site at the foot of Mt. Agung volcano to help with preparations for the Karya Panca Bali Krama ceremony, held once a decade and intended to purify the entire island of Bali.

The ceremony is also being held ahead of the temple’s anniversary on April 9.

Gunatra said many organizations from Denpasar had traveled to Besakih to help clear the area of rubbish.

“Every temple ceremony shows how disciplined Balinese Hindus are. We must work together to prepare for each ceremony,” he said.

Local official Ngurah Tini Rusmini Gorda said groups of students were also helping out, saying it was important for them to be taught the responsibilities of Hindu ceremonies.