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This research investigates the cultural significance of the transformation in the Ngaben ceremony, a central cremation ritual in Balinese Hindu tradition, focusing on the shift from traditional firewood-based methods to modern gas-based cremation practices. The Ngaben ceremony holds profound religious, philosophical, and social meaning, symbolizing the liberation of the soul from worldly ties and its journey to the afterlife. In recent decades, technological advancements and socio-environmental considerations have prompted many communities in Bali to adopt gas cremation systems, offering greater efficiency, reduced environmental impact, and lower operational costs. Using a qualitative ethnographic approach, this study draws on in-depth interviews, participant observation, and document analysis to explore how this transition affects cultural meaning, community values, and religious interpretations. The research compares the symbolic elements embedded in traditional and modern methods, examining how changes in materials, process duration, and ceremonial aesthetics influence the perceived authenticity and spiritual significance of the ritual. Findings reveal that while some community members view the adoption of gas cremation as a pragmatic adaptation that aligns with contemporary needs, others express concern about the erosion of cultural heritage and the diminished role of traditional craftsmanship. Furthermore, the study highlights the adaptive strategies employed by Balinese Hindu communities to integrate modern technology while preserving essential spiritual values, such as maintaining ritual sequences, symbolic offerings, and priest-led prayers. The analysis underscores that cultural transformation within religious practices is not a simple replacement of old methods with new ones, but rather a process of negotiation between tradition and innovation. Ultimately, this research contributes to broader discussions on cultural resilience, religious continuity, and the dynamic interaction between technological change and sacred tradition in contemporary Balinese Hindu society.

The island of Bali is a paradise for culture, every activity in Bali will never escape its cultural touch. Not only marriage, birth, but until death. Almost all Indonesian people and even foreign countries must have known and are familiar with every ritual that is owned by the people who live on the island of Bali. An example is the cremation ritual. Ngaben is one of the Balinese Hindu traditions to carry out death ceremonies. According to Tattwa, a person is considered dead if his atma has been separated from the five maha bhuta, this is mentioned in vrasphati tattwa (Swastika: 2008). The Ngaben ritual is carried out with a long series of activities and invites many people. In addition, this ritual also requires a relatively large range of costs. Because this death ritual is different from death rituals with other tribes, where most of the death rituals in various tribes in Indonesia are only carried out by directly burying the body. However, cremation is done by burning the corpse.