Pucker up for luck! Balinese villagers lock lips while being doused with water at kissing festival to bring good health and prosperity

It's an opportune time to be young, free and single - or deeply in love with your significant other - in the tiny Balinese village of Denpasar.

Every year, one day after Balinese Hindus celebrate the Nyepi Day of Silence, thousands of locals gather in the streets to take part in a kissing ritual known as omed omedan.

Participants gather en masse in town centre to party and kiss, in an event that is believed to ensure good health and prosperity to all those taking part, as well as protecting the village from bad luck during the year ahead.

(Every year thousands of locals gather in the streets to take part in the kissing ritual - known as omed omedan - in Denpasar)

(The so-called kissing ritual happens one day after Balinese Hindus celebrate the Nyepi Day of Silence, marking the start of the new year)

(It's believed the ritual brings good health and prosperity to those taking part, as well as protecting the village from bad luck)

For this event, young people are divided into two groups, which are group of men (teruna) and women (teruni). Before performing the ritual, all participants must attend a praying ceremony at the temple, where they will be sprinkled with holy water.

(Village priests are on hand with buckets of water to dampen the passions of lustful couples)

(The omed omedan ritual - which translates into 'pull, pull' - is believed to have started around 100 years ago)

(It's not clear when, or why, mass kissing became incorporated into the tradition, but it attracts thousands of participants every year)

(Omed omedan traditionally involves unmarried villages, aged 17 to 30, and begins with the prayer before the kissing begins)

Ref: Pucker up for luck! Balinese villagers lock lips while being doused with water at kissing festival to bring good health and prosperity (dailymail) Photo Credit-Daily Mail