The survivors in Petulu took action to rid the village of this dreadful negative energy by holding a ceremonial cleansing ceremony in the last week of October 1965 – and on the 7th November the same year, the herons (in local: Kokokan) arrived for the first time in history. At first people captured some of the herons for food and as breeding stock – but over 50 people who did so were visited by scary spirits, and quickly released them. The village then held a ceremony of welcome for the birds, who have ever since continued to return from their foraging all over the island to perch here. During the ceremonial procession for the Welcome Ceremony, the priest fell into a trance. From this, he learned that the herons were there to guard the village from pests and from negative events. The white herons are said to be the lost souls of those massacred and buried without due rites - and therefore bound to wander the land forever. There are three types of herons who suddenly decided to make Petulu their home: little egrets, cattle egrets, and Javan pond herons – and their numbers have been estimated to total up to 20,000. It is strange that they have only ever occupied a stretch of road that is on the route to the temple – and in front of the houses. They never go behind the houses, an area which in Hindu tradition is reserved for things unclean, such as toilets. It is interesting to see them strolling the streets side-by-side with the villagers - who still pay homage to the birds as these holy representatives and are quick to point out that since their arrival, the village has had uninterrupted prosperity.
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