Things that Go Bump in the Night

(9/17/2011)

A female resident of the Tunggak Bingin area of Sanur, Bali reports that she encountered  the fearsome and frightening countenance of “celuluk” (a supernatural goblin-like demon of the underworld) on Saturday night, September 11, 2011.

Beritabali.com reports that the woman, identified as only “Komang,” said she saw the celuluk at around 9 p.m. when she was delivering her older sibling “Kadek” to a residence in the areas of Tegal Bah Padangsambian, Denpasar.

Adi, a relation of the woman, said: “When it happened, Komang was taking her car out of the garage. At that moment she saw a 'celuluk' standing inform of the garages between a banana and a papaya tree.”

Komang described the celuluk as having black and white checkbox (poleng) legs and standing as tall as a normal person. Komang said she was so frightened that she was only brave enough to look at the creature from the waist down. After sighting the creature, Komang was said to have ran into her home while screaming hysterically.

Adi added: “Kadek was also screaming. She rubbed her eyes in disbelief; the more she rubbed her eyes the more the face of the celuluk same into view.”

After the incident both Komang and Kadek were too frightened to leave the house. Both insisted that they had clearly seen a celuluk.

In Bali where spirits are known to inhabit every home and local community, neighbors readily confirmed that there have been similar encounters in the area in the past. One local resident matter of factly  told the press of seeing a celuluk in Sindu Sanur between two large trees.

Similar stories abound in other parts of Bali. A series of celuluk sightings are also currently unsettling people living near Tabanan in West Bali. Facebook enthusiasts in Bali have been busy trading stories of celuluk sightings over the past week.

One week ago residents in Tabanan were reporting nightly encounters with celeluk. The first report was from the village of Pesagi in the Penebel region. This was followed by more reports from the region of Kerambitan. According to the press, many people in Tabanan are now apparently frightened to venture out in the evenings because of the reports.

“I usually return home alone from work at 9 p.m. on my motorcycle, but since the rumor or celuluk started I now request my husband to accompanying me,” explained Jero Sadan of Tabanan.

The chairman of the regional House of Representatives (DPRD-Tabanan), I Ketut Suryadi, dismissed public fears, saying the celuluk stories were only rumors.

“America has already landed on the moon, but we still fantasize about celuluks,” said Syryadi while shaking his head in disbelief.