Local press reports estimate 300,000 local residents and tourists will flock to Ubud over the coming days leading up to the grand cremation of 3 members of the Puri Ubud royal household on Tuesday, July 15, 2008. In all, more than 68 traditional villages will play a formal role in the multi-day celebration.

The Puri Ubud ceremony will bid farewell to Tjokorda Gde Agung Suyasa the head of the royal household and leader of Ubud’s traditional community since 1976; Tjokorda Gede Raka a retired Denpasar police officer; and Gung Niang Raka. Tjokorda Agung Suyasa was born on July 14, 1941, the third child of Tjokorda Gde Ngurah and Tjokorda Istri Muter. The oldest son of 10 children from Ubud’s last Raja, Suyasa died on March 28, 2008. Tjokorda Gde Raka died one week prior to Suyasa, while Desak Raka died on December 23, 2007. The current ceremony is the “final” and grand cremation for the three deceased.