The Culture of Bali: A Unique and Timeless Experience

The Culture of Bali

Bali is a truly one-of-a-kind island, renowned for its rich cultural heritage, vibrant pageantry, and enduring traditions. The people of Bali possess a genuine sense of inner happiness, which is believed to be attributed to their strong Hindu faith. There is a fundamental belief in the spiritual world, which must always be in balance with the physical world in order to achieve peace and prosperity.

The History of Bali: From Ancient Settlements to a Golden Age

Although there is no evidence of settlements dating back to the Stone Age on Bali, it is believed that the first settlers arrived from China around 2500 BC. By the Bronze Age, around 300 BC, a highly developed culture had emerged on the island. The complex system of irrigation and rice production, still in use today, was established during this time. The early history of Bali is somewhat vague, but Hindu artifacts have been found dating back to the 1st century. It appears that Buddhism was the dominant religion on the island around 500 AD. A Chinese scholar, Yi-Tsing, reported visiting a Buddhist country called Bali during his travels to India in 670 AD.

The strong influx of Hindu and Javanese cultures first reached Bali in the 11th century. After the death of his father around 1011 AD, the Balinese Prince, Airlanggha, relocated to East Java and united the region under one principality. He appointed his brother, Anak Wungsu, as ruler of Bali, leading to a reciprocal exchange of political and artistic ideas. The Balinese aristocracy adopted the Javanese language, Kawi, and many Javanese customs during this time. Bali enjoyed a period of autonomy following the death of Airlanggha in the mid-11th century.

However, this independence was short-lived, as Bali was conquered by the East Javanese king Kertanegara in 1284. Bali regained its freedom in 1292 after Kertanegara was murdered, but was once again brought under Javanese control by Gajah Mada, a general in the Majapahit Empire, in 1343. With the spread of Islam throughout Sumatra and Java during the 16th century, the Majapahit Empire began to collapse, leading to a large influx of aristocracy, priests, artists, and artisans to Bali. This period was considered the Golden Age of Bali's cultural history, with the principality of Gelgel becoming a major center for the Arts. Bali became the dominant power in the region, controlling neighboring Lombok and parts of East Java.

The Arrival of the Europeans

The first encounter between the Dutch and the island of Bali occurred in 1597, when Dutch sailors made landfall on the island. However, it wasn't until the 19th century that the Dutch began to express a desire to colonize the island. In 1846, the Dutch government, which had already established control over a large portion of Indonesia, sent troops to the northern region of Bali. A few years later, in 1894, the Dutch forces joined forces with the Sasak people of Lombok to defeat the Balinese rulers. By 1911, all of the Balinese principalities had either been defeated in battle or surrendered, resulting in the entire island being under Dutch control.

The Rise of Indonesian Nationalism

In the aftermath of World War I, the sentiment of Indonesian nationalism began to gain momentum. In 1928, Bahasa Indonesia was officially declared the national language of the country. During World War II, the Japanese occupied Indonesia, resulting in the expulsion of the Dutch. However, following the Japanese defeat, the Dutch attempted to regain control of their former colonies. On August 17, 1945, Indonesia declared its independence with Sukarno as its first President. Despite four years of fighting and criticism from the international community, the Dutch government eventually gave in, and in 1949, Indonesia was recognized as an independent nation.

The Communal Lifestyle in Bali

Bali is a highly social and community-driven society where the organization of villages, farming, and creative arts are all determined by the collective. While the local government is responsible for providing essential services such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure, the majority of daily life is governed by two ancient traditional committees that have deep roots in Balinese culture.

The first committee, known as Subak, is focused on the cultivation of rice and the management of the complex irrigation system. Every individual who owns a sawah or padi field must become a member of their local Subak to ensure fair distribution of irrigation water. Traditionally, the head of the Subak had their sawah located at the bottom of the hill, so the water would pass through every other sawah before reaching theirs.

The second committee is known as Banjar and is responsible for organizing all village festivals, marriage ceremonies, cremations, and community service activities known as Gotong Royong. All men are required to join a Banjar upon marriage, and each Banjar typically has a membership of 50 to 100 families. The Banjar has its own meeting place called the Bale Banjar, which is not only used for regular meetings but also serves as a gathering place for local gamelan orchestras and drama groups to practice.

In Bali, each stage of life is marked by a series of ceremonies and rituals called Manusa Yadnya, which play a significant role in shaping the rich and dynamic lifestyle that is typical of the average Balinese individual.

The Significance of Birth and Names in Balinese Culture

In Balinese culture, the journey of an individual's life is marked by a series of significant ceremonies and rituals. The first of these ceremonies starts even before birth, with another taking place shortly after to commemorate the arrival of a new life into the world. After this, the first major rite of passage takes place 210 days after the child's birth.

Balinese names hold a unique system, with a limited selection of four first names given to each child in order. For example, the first child is named Wayan or Putu, the second child is named Made or Kadek, the third is named Nyoman or Komang, and the fourth is named Ketut. The sequence repeats for every subsequent child, with the fifth being named Wayan again, and so on.

Balinese society values children and often have large families. In an effort to manage family life, younger children are placed in the care of older siblings. Along with the ceremonies marking the stages of childhood and puberty, the tooth-filing ceremony is considered a particularly significant rite of passage.

Marriage and Family Life

Marriage is an important aspect of Balinese culture, with most individuals looking forward to starting a family of their own. Marriages typically take place at a young age, although they are not always arranged, as is common in other Asian cultures. Balinese society recognizes two forms of marriage - the respectful mapadik, where the man's family visits the woman's to propose the union, and the exciting ngorod, where the couple elopes. The latter is considered a more adventurous and cost-effective option, with the couple going into hiding and re-emerging to announce the marriage after it has already taken place. The event is viewed as a fun and lighthearted celebration of the union, with all parties involved participating in the joy and excitement.

The Balinese Households
While there are a considerable number of contemporary Balinese homes, a significant proportion of the island's residents still reside in traditional Balinese houses. In the streets of Ubud, for instance, the majority of homes are built following the conventional walled design.

Gender Roles in Bali
In Balinese society, there are specific tasks that are traditionally assigned to women, while others are reserved for men. Despite this division of labor, social life in Bali is relatively liberal and relaxed. This extends to leisure activities where gender roles also apply, with both men and women participating in dancing, but only men playing the gamelan. Nevertheless, one may come across female painters, sculptors, and woodcarvers in the present day.

Community Living
The Balinese community is characterized by an energetic and well-organized village life. It is almost impossible to be an unknown individual in Bali, as one is bound to form relationships with their neighbors, given the close-knit and interdependent nature of their lives.

Death and Cremation
Every stage of life in Bali is marked by ceremonies, with the last ceremony, the cremation, being the most significant of them all. A Balinese cremation is a magnificent and captivating event, characterized by an array of colors, noise, and excitement. The process of organizing a cremation can take years, during which the body is temporarily buried. A suitable day for the cremation must be selected, and for those who cannot afford an elaborate cremation, the option of joining in on a larger cremation for their loved ones is available. The cremation of a Brahman, however, must be conducted immediately. The Balinese put in immense effort to make the cremation a work of art, which, while ephemeral, showcases their incredible energy. More than just the body is burned during the cremation, as the spirit is also laid to rest. The body is carried in a high tower, made of bamboo, paper, string, tinsel, silk, cloth, mirrors, flowers, and other bright and colorful items, to the cremation ground. The size of the group carrying the tower is dependent on the status of the deceased. The journey to the cremation ground is a lively affair, with the tower being shaken, run in circles, spun around, and drenched with water to confuse the spirit and prevent it from finding its way back home. A priest may cling to the tower, sprinkling holy water, while a gamelan provides musical accompaniment. Tourists with cameras often get caught in the excitement, further highlighting the fact that ceremonies and religion in Bali are meant to be enjoyed. At the cremation ground, the body is transferred to a funeral sarcophagus, which varies depending on the caste of the deceased - a bull for a Brahmana, a winged lion for a Satria, and an elephant-fish for a Sudra. Nowadays, however, most people from higher castes use a bull sarcophagus. The entire tower, sarcophagus, and body are then burned, with the eldest son responsible for sifting through the ashes to ensure that no parts of the body remain unburned. After cremation, the soul is believed to ascend to a heaven that resembles Bali.

The Religion
The Balinese people are predominantly Hindu, however, their religious practices and beliefs differ greatly from the Hindu religion practiced in India. Unlike the Indian caste system, there is no division based on occupation or the notion of untouchables in Balinese Hinduism. The only aspect that reflects the caste system is the language, which has three tiers. 95% of the Balinese population practices Hindu Dharma and speak Low or Everyday Balinese when communicating with each other. Middle Balinese is used in formal settings or when speaking to people of a higher caste, while High Balinese is reserved for speaking to the highest class, the Brahmana or a priest. Despite the complexity of the language structure, most of the words used in Low and Middle Balinese are similar, with High Balinese being a mixture of Middle Balinese and the ancient Javanese language, Kawi.

In Balinese Hinduism, the trinity of Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu are worshipped as manifestations of the Supreme God, Sanghyang Widhi. Other Indian gods such as Ganesha are also revered, but the island also has its own unique gods and spirits that are highly revered. The Balinese people have a strong belief in magic and the power of spirits, and much of their religion revolves around this. They believe that good spirits dwell in the mountains, while the seas are home to demons and ogres. Each village in Bali has at least three main temples - the Pura Puseh or temple of origin facing the mountains dedicated to the village's founders, the Pura Desa or village temple in the center dedicated to the village's welfare, and the Pura Dalem facing the sea dedicated to the spirits of the dead. In addition to these village temples, almost every household has its own shrine and there are monuments dedicated to the spirits of agriculture, art, and all aspects of life. Some temples, such as Pura Besakih on the slopes of Mount Agung, hold great importance and attract worshippers from all over Bali.

In Balinese culture, offerings play a significant role in maintaining a harmonious relationship with the spirits and bringing prosperity and good health to families. Daily offerings of symbolic food, flowers, cigarettes, and money are made on shrines, in temples, outside houses and shops, and even at dangerous crossroads through the use of small offering trays known as canang sari.

Religious festivals are also an important aspect of Balinese life and serve as a means of appeasing the gods. Women participate in these festivals by carrying beautifully arranged pyramids of food, fruit, and flowers on their heads, while men may conduct a blood sacrifice through a cockfight. These festivals feature traditional dances and music, and the gods are invited to join in the celebrations. If you are in Bali during a festival, it is an exciting and unforgettable experience. However, it is important to remember that there are certain rules and customs that must be respected when participating in celebrations or entering a temple.