TOURISM PLACE: culture

Showing posts with label culture. Show all posts

Showing posts with label culture. Show all posts

Balinese Hinduism: Agama Hindu Dharma

Foreign conquerors and visitors may come and go, but Bali’s culture remains.

For almost a thousand years, the native Balinese have followed a unique form of Hinduism, now known as Agama Hindu Dharma: a direct descendant of the religion brought to Bali by visiting Hindu gurus.

The rhythms of the Balinese religious calendar dictate island-wide days of obligation, temple-specific feast days, and daily personal rituals that connect every native Balinese to their families, communities, ancestors and gods. The religious needs of the populace ensures the preservation and continued popularity of thousands of temples and altars all around the island, ranging in size from simple family shrines to the “Mother Temple”, the Pura Besakih on Gunung Agung. And you’ll find their myths re-enacted in Balinese dances all over the island.

The strong link between the Balinese and their religion ensures that Bali retains a unique identity among Southeast Asia’s island destinations. Thanks in no small part to its unique culture, Bali has successfully resisted (to some degree) the commercialization and homogenization suffered by islands like Boracay in the Philippines or Phuket in Thailand. Balinese temples, dances, and ceremonies define the Bali tourist experience as much as its beaches or its surfing.

Bali - Tumpek Landep, Saturday, August 24

Around 150 kris, double-edged daggers, from across Indonesia will be displayed during a special parade to commemorate Tumpek Landep, a Balinese Hindu day dedicated to worship Sang Hyang Pasupati, the god of steel.

The ceremony will fall on Saturday, August 24, and will be commemorated by Balinese families cleaning all metallic instruments, especially family heirlooms such as swords, kris, spears and, nowadays, cars, motorcycles and other metal instruments.

During the annual parade held at Puputan Park in Denpasar, a number of artists and dancers from the Indonesian Arts Institute Denpasar will perform a special dance.
The theme of the event will be Taksu Keris Bali, Pusaka Budaya Nusantara (The Spiritual Power of Balinese Kris, the Nation’s Cultural Heritage). The launching of a new book entitled Jelajah Keris Bali (Exploring Balinese Kris), written by I WayanGriya, will be held also.

bali / culture / living

Secret Balinese Dances In Ubud

In a secret location well away from the bright lights of Ubud, a group of special guests were treated to the grand rehearsal of an event that will be seen by millions of viewers around the world in September.

Under the art direction of Indonesia’s most famous haute-couture designer, musician, philosopher and artist, Harry Darsono and director, Nyoman Budiartha, chairman of the conservatory and Tri Pusaka Cakti arts foundation, a series of Balinese ballet and musical performances underwent a few last tweaks ahead of opening in three world-class Bali events slated for September and October.

The troupe will perform during the inaugural international Lion’s Club ANZI Pacific Forum, followed soon after by performances during the first ever Miss World competition in Southeast Asia, to be held in Bali and Jakarta in late September, then a further performance for the opening of the APEC Summit in early October, probably attended again by Obama and Poetin.

As Indonesia’s foremost haute-couture designer, Darsono, who has crafted gowns for leading French fashion houses including Oscar de la Renta and Lanvin, has created the costumes and imagery for the production.
This extraordinary man, who has created gowns for Miss World contestants from Indonesia, England, Turkey, Norway, Wales and China, is clearly excited to be working with the Tri Pusaka Cakti troupe under the direction of Nyoman Budiartha.

Bali - Pura Negara Gambur Anglayang

Pura Negara Gambur Anglayang in Kubutambahan village, Buleleng regency is a rare and unique temple.

Established in the 13th century, when the village was an ancient trade port named Kuta Baning, Pura Negara Gambur Anglayang is a place of worship for people of different faiths.

The temple has eight pelinggih (worship shrines) dedicated to different faith followers. There is a pelinggih named Ratu Bagus Sundawan for worshipers from Sunda (now in West Java). Another pelinggih is named Ratu Bagus Melayu, dedicated for worshipers from Malaya (Sumatra, Singapore and Malaysia). Yet other pelinggih are Ratu Ayu Syahbandar and Ratu Manik Mas as representations for Chinese and Buddhist followers. Ratu Pasek Pelinggih, Dewi Sri and Gede Siwa are for Hindu devotees. At the entrance gate is Ratu Dalem Mekah, representing traders from Gujarat in India.

The architectural design of the temple is similar to other temples in Bali. What makes it different is its pelinggih and interior ornaments. There is also a wall painting depicting a gold vessel sailing on the ocean. The painting records the journey of Ratu Ayu Syahbandar from China to Kubutambahan village.

During the odalan (temple anniversary), which falls every Buda Wage Kelawu (a day in the Balinese calendar that occurs every six months), thousands of local residents and people from numerous places come to pray at the temple. At the start of the anniversary rituals, there is a ritual at the beach to welcome the deities who will reside in the eight worship shrines during the celebrations. The worshippers also strongly believe they will spiritually see a gold ship passing by the sea near the temple.

Despite being unknown to many visitors, the temple is a genuine example of religious tolerance in Bali, the concept practiced by local residents and visitors alike for hundreds of years.

bali / Buleleng / culture / destination

Balinese Cockfight

The Dutch banned cockfighting in Indonesia. The British banned cockfighting in England in 1840. The independent Indonesian government also banned it - except in Bali, but only for certain purposes.

Cockfighting is part of the Balinese way of life. Cockfights, which in Balinese are known as tajen, meklecan or ngadu, are required at temple and purification (mecaru) ceremonies. No one knows when they started. There are ancient texts disclosing that the ritual has existed for centuries. It is mentioned in the Batur Bang Inscriptions from the year 933 and the Batuan Inscription from the year 944 (on the Balinese calendar). The blood of the loser spills on the ground, an offering to the evil spirits. Three cockfights are necessary for this purpose. Only men participate. Women do not even watch.

To the Balinese cockfighting is much more than a religious ritual. Men in villages tend their roosters lovingly. They identify with them and much conversation turn on them. The vast majority of men own at least one rooster. They are symbolic expressions of their owners. The sound of roosters crowing to each other early in the morning is the normal wake-up call. It is common throughout Asia.

The roosters, often of very splendid colors, are kept in wicker, bamboo cages placed outside their owners' houses. It is important that the roosters get used to the commotion of everyday life. They are trained not to be distracted by unusual sounds when they get to the all-important fight. They are fed a special diet of maize. Red pepper is pushed down their beaks to give them spirit. The birds are at their fighting peak at about three years old.

A cockfight is an offering, a sacred matter. The rules are written down in the ancient lontar palm books, which are village heirlooms. The umpire's word is final. In the case of cocks dying at virtually the same time, he decides. Before the cockfight begins, a pemangku (priest) will present offerings to the evil spirits and also the gods. Then the serious business begins.
If you see a large number of motorbikes parked outside a field or a temple - usually in the late afternoon, the chances are that a cockfight is being held.

The fight

Men travel to cockfights with their roosters. They sit in a circle in the wantilan or an open area. Each fight is treated equally and, as soon as one fight ends, men look for a suitable match for the next. They try to match cocks of equal ability for a good fight. The fight should be unpredictable. If there is an imbalance, the spur on the stronger bird is adjusted slightly to give him a handicap.

An expert affix the spurs. The sharp steel spurs, called taji, are single blades, about four or five inches long, tied around the leg with string. Spurs are sharpened only at eclipses and during a dark moon and should not be seen by women. The word for cockfight, tajen, comes from tajian, the taji being the blade. Once done the cocks are placed on the ground in the middle of the ring. The timekeeper sits at a desk on the right hand corner. He pierces a coconut with a small hole and puts it in a bucket of water. It takes about 21 seconds to sink. At the start and end he beats a kulkul, a slit drum. The loser is the one that dies first.

The birds
The rules of the fight, the colors and the shape of the birds have been laid down for centuries. In the past only local birds were allowed. Now, cocks from Lombok, Java and even as far afield as the Philippines, Japan and the United States are used. They must be healthy and not have any specific marks, such as black freckles on their legs, as these are unlucky. Forbidden also are cocks with red splotches on their muscles, tongues or skins.
Source: Murni

animals / bali / culture

Final Miss World Moved To Bali

Increasing protest from hard-line groups over the 2013 Miss World beauty pageant – which is slated to be held in Bali and Bogor in West Java from Sept. 8 to 28 – has seemingly forced the government to drop Bogor as one of the event hosts.

Coordinating People’s Welfare Minister Agung Laksono announced on Saturday that now all of the pageant events, from the opening ceremony to the coronation night, would be held in Bali.However, contestants, he continued, would be allowed to visit other provinces, but not as part of the aktivitas series.

In the initial schedule, after the first week of events came to an end in Bali, all 129 contestants from around the globe would then travel to Jakarta, where they would compete in different events culminating with the selesai on Sept. 28 at the Sentul International Convention Center (SICC).

The contest, however, has drawn protests from Islamic hard-line groups across the country in the days leading up to the pageant. The groups protested the decision to host Miss World in the country, calling it as an “immoral event”. The absence of a bikini round in the contest has failed to appease the hard-liners. Again....

Bali - The Kulkul

The Kulkul is a big bell made of wood or bamboo and used by various social organizations of the Balinese society.

It is used to indicate time of meetings, ceremonies, when someone die and to inform people during a strain time resulted by conflict or criminal.

Organizations in Bali are various, based on tradition, religion, profession or hobby. The type of the sound must therefore different and typical for each organization, so each member of the organization will understand to whom the bell is rang. For the need of traditional organizations the kulkul is made from selected wood such as jack-fruit tree or orange tree.

In all events normally the sound of the kulkul is made as "duang tulud" meaning two rounds. One round of sound starting slow, then quicker and quicker, then slow again. When one of the village members died, the biggest kulkul of the banjar is knocked in three rounds. Since dead is the obligation of all members of the organization within a village to participate in the activity of burial and ritual. This kulkul, called Bale Kulkul, is placed at the temple.

The 10 Most Important Temples In Bali

1. Pura Besakih
The holiest of all temples in Bali, the "Mother Temple" of Pura Besakih is located some 3,000 feet up Gunung Agung in East Bali. This sprawling complex consolidates 23 separate temples, some dating back to the 10th century. The temple's main axis aligns with the peak of Gunung Agung, the tallest mountain and holiest site in all of Bali. Pura Besakih narrowly escaped destruction in 1963, as lava flow from Gunung Agung's killer eruption missed the temple by mere yards. Today, Pura Besakih is a major draw for tourists and for devout Balinese.

2. Pura Gunung Kawi
Located about a mile south of Tampaksiring, Bali's "Valley of the Kings" is located in a ravine between ricefields. The Pakerisan river flows through this ravine, and the cliffs flanking the river feature shrines carved into the stone honoring kings and queens from the 11th century. The Balinese - big believers in the holiness of water - believe that the river sanctifies Pura Gunung Kawi.

3. Tirta Empul
The sacred spring that feeds Tirta Empul provides holy water for priests and bathing for ordinary Balinese, who believe that a dip hereabouts can bring good fortune and health. An offering must first be made at the temple before you can climb into the long main pool to bathe and meditate.
Tirta Empul was probably built in 926 AD during the Balinese Warmadewa dynasty. A villa complex nearby houses government VIPs; it was originally constructed for former President Sukarno in the 1950s.

4. Pura Luhur Lempuyang
Obscurity aside, the temple of Pura Luhur Lempuyang is one of Bali's most important religious places: it's one of the six sad kahyangan ("temples of the world") dedicated to Sang Hyang Widi Wasa (the supreme God), and it's also one of the island's nine directional temples that "protects" the native Balinese from evil spirits. The temple presents an interesting challenge to visitors: reaching the top means conquering 1,700 steps cut into mountainside jungle, requiring about an hour and a half of serious climbing. The temple at the top offers awesome views of Gunung Agung, framed by the temple gate.

5. Goa Gajah
Known as the "Elephant Cave", Goa Gajah seems strangely free from elephants until you realize it takes its name from its proximity to the Elephant River. Goa Gajah's key attraction is the menacing entrance to the cave - the surrounding rock has been carved into a face, mouth agape. The interior of the cave features a statue of the Hindu god Ganesha and a worship area devoted to the Hindu god Shiva. Goa Gajah probably dates back to the 11th century.

6. Pura Tanah Lot
Tanah Lot stands on a rock some distance from the shore, towering over the sea. Access to the temple is limited to low tide.
The temple's construction was supposedly inspired by the priest Nirartha in the 15th century; after spending the night on the rock outcrop where the temple now stands, he instructed local fishermen to build a temple on that site. Today, Tanah Lot is regarded as one of Bali's most important directional temples. A multimillion-dollar restoration effort in the 1990s saved Tanah Lot from falling into the sea. As one of Bali's most popular temples, Tanah Lot is surrounded by crowds and vendors. Do not visit if it's peace and quiet you're after, but do come if you're after a great sunset view.

7. Pura Taman Ayun
Built in the 1600s by the King of Mengwi, Pura Taman Ayun survives today as a beautiful example of a royal public temple. The descendants of the Mengwi royal family still sponsor the temple, which also serves as the clan kawitan temple (a temple dedicated to the worship of the deified ancestors, in this case the previous rulers of the Mengwi royal family). "Taman Ayun" means "beautiful garden"; a moat surrounds the temple, which gives the complex the appearance of floating on water. A landscaped front courtyard entered through an ornamental candi bentar (split front gate) adds to the temple's beauty. The inner courtyard features a number of multi-tiered meru (pagodas).

8. Pura Ulun Danu Bratan
This temple on the shores of Lake Bratan is second only to Pura Besakih in significance, but for rice farmers in Bali, this temple is the foremost on the island. Pura Ulun Danu Bratan is the primary temple in the many temples and shrines that punctuate the subak irrigation system popular in Bali. The temple is dedicated to the worship of the goddess of lakes and rivers, Dewi Batari Ulun Danu.
Part of the temple is located on the mainland, while a significant section seems to "float" on the lake, being set on an island just off the mainland temple complex. An 11-roof meru (pagoda) sits on the island section, a towering beauty surrounded by a placid lake.

9. Pura Luhur Uluwatu
Pura Luhur Uluwatu is both a major Balinese temple - one of the six sad kahyangan revered by all Balinese - and the site of a nightly kecak performance that re-enacts the Ramayana through chanting half-naked men, masked actors and a dramatic fire-dance. Pura Luhur Uluwatu was first constructed by a Javanese Hindu guru in the 10th century. The whole temple stands on a cliff soaring 200 feet above sea. The temple's name refers to its position "at the head of the rock", and visitors get an eyeful of the sea as it breaks against the base of the cliffs below. The view is especially beautiful during sunset.

10. Pura Goa Lawah
The temple of Pura Goa Lawah in East Bali is centered around a cave inhabited by thousands of bats. A black-sand beach nearby makes Goa Lawah a popular site for post-cremation purification, for the Balinese families that can afford it. The Javanese priest Nirartha is reputed to have visited the cave back in the 15th century. Legend has it that the cave interior extends over 19 miles underground to emerge at Pura Besakih.

bali / culture / destination / tourist

Bali - The Ramayana Epos, The Story Of Rama And Sita

The story of the Ramayana greatly inspires the Balinese. Many of their dances are based on this great story which is often depicted in a ballet. The Balinese version differs from the Indian version.

Rama, the prince of Ayodhya and his wife Sita are the ideal royal couple. Rama is brave, wise and dutiful, and Sita is beautiful, generous and saintly. Sita gets introduced to Rama at a ceremony called ‘Swayamvara’, organized by her father Janaka, the king of Mithila to identify a suitable bridegroom for her lovely daughter. Princes from various kingdoms are invited and challenge to string a giant bow. Only the mighty Rama could lift the bow, string it and even break it into two halves. This leads Sita to garland Rama as her husband.

Dasharatha, the king of Ayodhya, had three wives and four sons. Rama was the eldest and his mother was Kaushalya. Bharata was the son of his second and favorite wife, Kaikeyi. The other two were twins, Lakshmana and Shatrughna from his third wife Sumitra. While Rama is all set for coronation, his step-mother, Dasharatha’s second wife, Kaikeyi, wants her son, Bharata, to become king. Before the aged king could hand over his crown to his eldest son Rama, Dasaratha is destined to die. And instead of being crowned king of Ayodhya, Rama is sent into exile in the forest for fourteen year by an intrigue in the palace and a quirk of fate.

Rama goes to the forest, accompanied by his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana, and they live as recluses among the hermits that lead a life of meditative retreat in the deep woods. Bharata, whose mother's evil plot won him the throne, goes to meet Rama in the forest and pleads him to return to the capital. As Rama declines to break his vow given to his deceased father, Bharata is compelled to go back to Ayodhya with his sandals, which he places on the throne as the symbol of Rama’s continuing monarchy.

While Rama, Sita and his brother are living a simple yet happy life in the forest, tragedy strikes! Henceforth, the plot revolves around the abduction of Sita by the demon king Ravana, the ten-headed ruler of Lanka, and Rama’s pursuit to rescue her, aided by Lakshmana and the mighty monkey-general Hanuman. Sita is held captive in the island as Ravana tries to persuade her to marry him. Rama assembles an army of allies comprising mainly of monkeys under the brave Hanuman. They attack Ravana’s army, and after a fierce battle, succeed in killing the demon king and freeing Sita, reuniting her with Rama.

After fourteen years, Rama and Sita return to Ayodhya and are warmly welcomed back by the citizens of the kingdom, where they rule for many years, and have two sons – Luv and Kush. Unfortunately, Sita’s chastity during her period of capture by Ravana comes under scrutiny, and she has to go through trial by fire to prove her purity. But queen, who emerged from the earth at her birth, invokes Mother Earth to take her back into the earth, and the saintly Sita returns to her Mother, never to reappear again.

Ramayana dancers

Bali - Mass Cremation

In Balinese Hindu culture, Ngaben, or the cremation ritual, is viewed as a way to send the deceased to the creator and is part of the Pitra Yadnya, or rituals related to ancestral spirits.

For higher caste society in Bali, ngaben should be performed immediately after a family member passes away. For them, ngaben is usually an elaborate ceremony to gaji their deceased relative. It takes days, weeks and even months to prepare for a grand, opulent ngaben ceremony. Millions of rupiah will be spent to create an intricate sarcophagus, usually built in the form of white or black cow, as well as huge bade (towering structure to transport the deceased to the cremation). They are also required to perform a series of pre- and post-ngaben rituals that involve scores of people and are very expensive.

But this is not always the case. For low-income and underprivileged families, ngaben can be too costly. In this situation, families usually bury their relative and wait until they have sufficient money to perform the required rituals. Fortunately, these days, many ngerit, or mass cremations, are held to ease the financial burden for those who wish to complete the Pitra Yadnya ceremony for the deceased relatives. Last month, residents of Padang Tegal village in Ubud, Gianyar, carried out a mass cremation for the benefit of all village residents who had not yet managed to perform ngaben. These ngerit are held by the village every three to five years. Every family in the village worked together to prepare the mass cremation, with 80 bodies to be cremated. The ceremony was held at a cemetery located within the Monkey Forest area in Ubud, taking place when the Monkey Forest was packed with visitors. From early morning, residents of Padang Tegal had already arrived at the cemetery to carry out every step of the ritual, solemnly but modestly completing the series of meaningful events amid hundreds of spectators.

bali / ceremony / culture

Bali - The Amazing Coconut Tree (2)

Not only does the coconut have many names at each of its developmental stages, the leaves also get their names depending on the color phase.

The young yellow leaves that grow at the top are called busung in Balinese, and the more mature green ones are called slepan. The yellow of the busung give it the impression of softness and exclusivity.

Busung are used for ketupat rice cake weavings, decorations, penjor bamboo pole ornamentation's and canang flower offering frames that are later topped off with colorful flowers. The slepan is used as the offering’s base, as the harder texture makes it withstand longer storage. The green coconut leaves can be woven and used as roofing. The weaving's are called klangsah. Since many came to use in tiles and metal roofing, the woven roofings are only reserved for very simple housing or small rice field shelter boxes.

Dried coconut leaves aren’t hastily disposed of as the spines can still be collected for flexible and highly effective brooms. The fruit stems or danyuh can be used for various handicrafts or simply as fuel for cooking fires. Although currently the Indonesian government has aggressively urged the people to use LPG gas stoves, many still cook using fire stoves. The coconut tree trunks are of high economical value also. Since the early days they have been used for building material and recently the majority used in knockdown gazebos that are exported overseas. Due to its multifunctional properties, the coconut is highly regarded among the people. The Balinese consider it the symbol of life and fertility. With the progress of ages, many traditional tools have now been replaced by metallic or plastic items. Yet this does not necessarily replace the overall functions of the coconut. It still remains important and has a special place in the hearts of the local
community.

bali / culture / living

Some Unknown Balinese Dances

The lifestyles of Balinese people is expressed in their dance. Not only do we learn about the Balinese religion from their dance creations but also we can come to understand the flow of cultural events and activities that belong to everyday life. We can discover Balinese attitudes, how they look at nature, and how they regard their fauna and flora.

The very essence of the Balinese culture is dance and drama, which is performed during temple festivals and in ceremonies. The dances performed in hotels is a small fraction of what Balinese dance has to offer. Balinese dance goes as far back as Balinese written history with much of the heritage originating from Java. Ironically, as a result of the Islamisation of Java, the Javanese culture has disappeared but has still survived in Bali and has become part of classical Balinese culture.

Balinese dance cannot be separated from religion. Even the dances for the tourists are preceded by many dancers praying at their family shrine for taksu (inspiration) from the gods. The typical posture of Balinese dance has the legs half-bent, the torso shifted to one side with the elbow raised and lowered in a gesture that displays suppleness of the hands and fingers. The torso is shifted in symmetry with the arms. If the arms are to the right, the shifting is to the left and vice-verse. Most people know the Legong, Barong and Kecak dance, but here some not so well know Balinese dances

The Ramayana
The story of the Ramayana greatly inspires the Balinese. Many of their dances are based on this great story which is often depicted in a ballet. The Balinese version differs from the Indian Version.

Tari Panyembrama
The Panyembrama is probably the most popular Balinese social dance. In keeping with its meaning in the Balinese Language, Panymebrama is frequently staged to welcome guests of honour who are making a visit to this islands of the Gods. During the dance, flowers are scattered over the guest or audience as an expression of welcome.

The Yudapati Dance
Yudapati is a dance which depicts a male character but is performed by female dancers. The word Yudapati is derived from Yuda which means war and Pati which means death. The dance represents the kamikaze warrior in defending the truth. It is based on the Baris dance.

The Ghopala Dance
This dance provides the audience with an interesting insight into the lives of people who live in a simple and pure manner in an environment of blissful tranquility. This dance usually performed by five boy dancers. The characters of the Ghopala dance are especially funny and will draw laughter from the audience.

The Semarayana Dance
As we know, there exists many art forms such as music, painting, poetry, drama, sculpture, etc. and, of course, dancing is yet another and is a popular form of expression. Artists will take a certain aspect of a medium, build on it to form another. This is the case of the Semarayana dance. The main character is Dewi Chandra Kirana, a princess from the kingdom of Daha who disguised herself as a male youth so she could venture out and seek her beloved who had disappeared without a trace.

The Sanghyang Jaran Dance
The unique feature of the Sanghyang Jaran dance is the courage of the dancers who in a state of Kesurupan or trance, calmly step and trample on red hot coals just as if they were walking in cold water. This dance is believed to have the power to invite the gods or sacred spirits to enter the body of the dancers and put them in a state of trance. It dates back to the ancient Pre-Hindu culture, a time when the Balinese people strongly believed that a dance could eliminate sickness and disease. The is dance is usually performed in the fifth or sixth month of the Balinese traditional calendar as it is believe that during these particular months, the Balinese are vulnerable to all kinds of illnesses.

The Gebug Ende Dance
The Gebug Ende is a combination of dance and trial of prowess. It is usually performed by two to sixty male dancers who dance and fight on stage in pairs. Each dancer/fighter carries a one and a half meter long rattan stick as as a weapon and a shield called an ende. During the performance the two men try to beat one another with the stick while using the ende to protect themselves. The dance is called Gebug Ende as it literally means beating the ende or shield. One cannot afford to make mistakes in this dance as otherwise injury results.

Legong Trunajaya - The dance of love and emotion
The Trunajaya dance describes the emotions of a young man through love and passion. The dance movements reflect the theme of courtship and love. Truna meaning 'single' and jaya meaning 'to win' immediately gives an understanding of the dance. Ironically, the dancer are young women who take on the role of young men. The women wear a 'destar' normally worn by men and an unusual loin-cloth called a 'kancut'. The Trunajaya is normally danced by a single female but sometimes two, dancing together in synchronous movements and to the mesmorotic sounds of the 'Gong Kebyar', a fast, rhythmic beat which goes in harmony to the dance. The dance is from Singaraja, Northern Bali.

bali / culture / tourist

Bali - Old Chinese Coins

For the Balinese Hindu society, a Chinese coin goes beyond a payment tool. Old coins are still used as ceremonial utensils, decorations, magical and spiritual devices, as well as being precious collectors’ items.

Ancient Chinese coins hold strong memories and history for many Balinese people.
A coin featuring Arjuna, one of the five Pandawa brothers from the Mahabharata epic, is believed to have the power to attract many beautiful women. Meanwhile, a coin showing Bima, Arjuna’s elder brother, may have power to increase one’s physical prowess. One of his oldest and most rare coins is from the Han dynasty, dated 2,200 years ago.

But as usual here, there are many fake old Chinese coins circulating in Bali with 99 percent similarity to the original ones.

Bali - Gamelan Music

Gamelan is a term for various types of orchestra played in Indonesia. It is the main element of the Indonesian traditional music. Each gamelan is slightly different from the other; however, they all have the same organization, which based on different instrumental groups with specific orchestral functions. The instruments in a gamelan are composed of sets of tuned bronze gongs, gong-chimes, met-allophones, drums, one or more flute, bowed and plucked string instruments, and sometimes singers. In some village gamelan, bronze is sometimes replaced by iron, wood, or bamboo. The most popular gamelan can be found in Java and Bali.

The Beliefs
In Indonesian traditional thinking, the gamelan is sacred and is believed to have supernatural power. Both musician and non-musicians are humble and respectful to the gamelan. Incense and flowers are often offered to the gamelan. It is believed that each instrument in the gamelan is guided by spirits. Thus, the musician have to take off their shoes when they play the gamelan. It is also forbidden to step over any instrument in a gamelan, because it might offend the spirit by doing so.

Functions of Gamelan
Gamelan is a way of linking individuals in social groups. Gamelan music is performed as a group effort, and so there is no place for an individual showoff. Traditionally, gamelan is only played at certain occasions such as ritual ceremonies, special community celebrations, shadow puppet shows, and for the royal family. Gamelan is also used to accompany dances in court, temple, and village rituals. Besides providing music for social functional ceremonies, gamelan also provides a livelihood for many professional musicians, and for specialized craftsmen who manufacture gamelan.

Today, although gamelan music is still used for ritual ceremonies and the royal family, it is also performed as concert music at social and cultural gatherings to welcome guests and audiences. Gamelan is also used to accompany many kinds of both traditional and modern dances, drama, theatrical and puppetry. Not only man play gamelan, Bali have a large number of woman gamelan groups.

art / bali / culture

Kecak Rina, Best Balinese Kecak Dance

The most beautiful, spectacular and dramatic Kecak dance on Bali is performed by the group Kecac Rina, from the dancer-choreographer Ketut Rina.

Unfortunately, this group has no fixed playing schedule, playing performances all over the world and is seen in Bali usually only on special occasions. Here is a video of a performance at the Garuda Whisnu Kencana culturel park.

art / bali / culture

Bali - Penyajaan Ganungan, Galungan Cookies

Penyajaan Galungan for Balinese is always a day full of cookies, Bali is covered with cookies.

As its name suggest, the words “penyajaan” is derived from the word “Jaja” which means “cookies. Various fried rice dough cookies are made for offering on Galungan. The creativity and patience of Balinese women are put into test when making these cookies since they usually have intricate pattern with different shapes and colors. Heaps of cookies are everywhere, in traditional markets, in roadside stalls and of course every house compound is filled with half processed cookies.

Penyajaan Galungan is also devoted for meditation and self control. Ancient lontar scripture, Sundarigama, describes this day as “Pangastawaning sang ngamong yoga samadhi.” This means “the day for those who practice yoga and meditation”. On this day the second personification of three evil forces (Bhuta Dunggulan) comes to the world to temp the human being. It is believed by Balinese that on this day, evil force (Bhuta Dunggulan) will temp humans with lust for power and control over someone else. For Balinese, self control and meditation are the ultimate weapons for fighting the temptation of the evil force.

bali / ceremony / culture

Christianity In Bali

Bali, one of Indonesia's 17,508 islands, is home to Indonesia's Hindu minority. The island became a refuge in the 16th century for Javanese Hindus fleeing the spread of Islam in Indonesia.

The province of Bali is 93 percent Hindu, while Indonesia as a whole is 85 percent Muslim. One doesn't have to walk into one of the 20,000 Hindu temples or shrines to realize that Hinduism is deeply embedded in Bali, traditionally called "Island of the Gods." Native Balinese practice a distinctive blend of Hinduism with indigenous animism, ancestor worship, and magic.

Compared with the rest of Indonesia, Christianity has made little headway in Bali. Christians make up only 2 percent of Bali's inhabitants. Christians are 15 percent of Indonesia's entire population. In Bali, it is easier to establish a mosque than a church: Pastors need approval from 50 families in the surrounding area and recommendation letters from the local district government. Islamic leaders do not face such steep requirements.

Yet new Christian outreach is taking root. A turning point occurred in 1972, when I Wayan Mastra, a native Balinese Hindu who became a Christian at a school on Java, was chosen as chairman of the Balinese Protestant church association. He contextualized the Balinese church, including introducing dance and traditional gamelan music, to divorce it from its Dutch Reformed colonial legacy. He cast a vision for a "mango tree" church, rooted in Balinese soil, not a "bonsai tree" church, potted artificially. Over time, Mastra's vision produced results. Christianity in Bali is now growing faster than the population in Indonesia.

The Christian church in Negara

Bali - Religious Protest Against New Tourist Spot

Numerous Hindu high priests and community leaders have strongly rejected the central government’s plan to include Besakih Temple and Gunung Agung, both in Karangasem regency in east Bali, in the development of national strategic tourism plan (KSPN).

Last Sunday was a high-level meeting of highly respected high priests, Pasamuhan Sabdha Pandita Parisada Hindu Dharma Indonesia (PHDI), from which the priests issued a statement rejecting any idea of transforming the two sacred sites into the KSPN proposed by the government.

The PHDI urged President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry to revoke ministerial decree No. 50 issued in 2011 on the inclusion of Besakih and Gunung. Agung as KSPN for the 2010-2025 period. The PHDI also asked the provincial administration to retain the sacred site status of Besakih Temple and Gunung Agung as per bylaw No. 16/2009. Five of the most influential high priests signed the statement.

Believed to have been built in prehistoric times, Besakih is the mother temple and largest and most holy worship place for Balinese Hindus. It was built 1,000 meters up the slope of Gunung Agung, a mountain deemed holy by the Balinese. Gunung Agung and Besakih are Huluning Jagat Bali — the center of the universe for Balinese Hindus. It is the center of the godly power that protects Bali and its people. It will deeply affect the very soul of the Balinese Hindus.

The Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry had previously designated several places in Bali as part of the KSPN, including Besakih and Gunung Agung in Karangasem; Kintamani and Lake Batur in Bangli; Pemuteran and Menjangan island in Buleleng as well as Sanur, Kuta and Nusa Dua resort areas.

A veteran tourism practitioner in Bali, warned the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry to be more sensitive in dealing with religious sites. Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika had previously said that KSPN were central government programs. In the KSPN, he said, there were no specific words referring to Besakih Temple or Gunung Agung, just the development of Karangasem regency for spiritual tourism. “We, the provincial administration, have never proposed Besakih Temple and Gunung Agung be included in the KSPN,” Pastika insisted.

Jakarta is only interested in money, it seems they don't care about the unique Balinese Hindu religious sites!! Tanah Lot is a good example as a sort of religious Disneyland.

bali / culture / destination / Karangasam

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