The water provided by the spring is lead into a reservoir. From there it is split into two to provide drinking water for the town of Amlapura while the rest is led through an underground pipe which emerges into an upper swimming pool through the mouth of a raksasa (a demon) who watches the bathers from the corner of the pool. The overflow then goes into a lower swimming pool, and from there into small fish ponds, yet another swimming pool, and finally into the adjoining rice fields.
The water of Tirtagangga has always been regarded as holy and is regularly used for religious temple ceremonies. With important celebration days Tirtagangga is the destination of colourful processions with offerings, umbrellas, flags and other tributes. Led by the local temple priests, ceremonies are held at the spring, accompanied by chanting and the music of the 'Beleganjur', a gamelan gong group of small gongs with each musician striking a specific, different note on the musical scale, all blending in harmony.
Tirtagangga is located near Ababi village in the subdistrict of Abang, Karangasem, about 6 km north of Amlapura, at a distance of 83 km from Denpasar.
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