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Why do Balinese People Go to the Kitchen First?

A Sacred Ritual Beyond Cooking

In Bali, the kitchen known as Paon, Pawaregan, or Peratengan, isn’t just a place to cook. It holds deep spiritual meaning rooted in Balinese Hindu beliefs.

More than a Kitchen

  1. Pawaregan comes from “wareg”, meaning full or satisfied.
  2. Peratengan is linked to matang, meaning cooked.
  3. Paon comes from Pa Abuan the “place of ashes” where wood-fired cooking once took place.
Balinese Kitchen

Spiritual Protection

Balinese tradition teaches that when returning home from outside, you should go to the kitchen first instead of your bedroom. Why?

It’s to clear away unseen negative energy or spirits (bhuta kala) that may have followed you. This ritual, mentioned in sacred texts like Lontar Asta Kosala Kosali, protects your home and restores peace. Skipping this step is believed to lead to discomfort, illness, or unease caused by lingering negative forces.

A Place for Rituals

The Paon also plays a role in important ceremonies, such as:

  1. Metatah (tooth filing)
  2. Baby cleansing rituals
  3. Purification for pregnancy

Even healing herbs and plants, like moringa, are traditionally planted near the kitchen for protection and balance. The Balinese kitchen isn’t just for food, it’s a sacred gateway that feeds, cleanses, and protects. That’s why, in balinese belief, you always go to the kitchen first.