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adventure travel
About the religion in Bali
Bali is the only Hindu-majority province in Muslim-majority Indonesia, with 86.9% of the population adhering to Balinese Hinduism. It is renowned for its highly developed arts, including traditional and modern dance, sculpture, painting, leather, metalworking, and music. The Indonesian International Film Festival is held every year in Bali. Other international events held in Bali include the Miss World 2013 and 2018 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group. In March 2017, TripAdvisor named Bali as the world’s top destination in its Traveler’s Choice award, which it also earned in January 2021.
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In ancient Bali, nine Hindu sects existed, namely Pasupata, Bhairawa, Siwa Shidanta, Vaishnava, Bodha, Brahma, Resi, Sora and Ganapatya. Each sect revered a specific deity as its personal Godhead.
Bali was inhabited around 2000 BCE by Austronesian people who migrated originally from the island of Taiwan to Southeast Asia and Oceania through Maritime Southeast Asia. Culturally and linguistically, the Balinese are closely related to the people of the Indonesian archipelago, Malaysia, the Philippines and Oceania. Stone tools dating from this time have been found near the village of Cekik in the island’s west.
About the culture and traditions
To know Balinese culture and traditions intimately requires an understanding of the philosophy of Tri Hita Karana “Three Causes of Goodness”, which is the origin of the Balinese belief system. It is centered on maintaining a harmonious relationship with God, people and nature. Once aware, this becomes easily identifiable in the Balinese way of life, architecture, agriculture and tradition. It is believed that the wisdom of living true to these elements brings about the prosperity and harmony.
Every important event in human life is always followed by particular ceremony, for example there are Balinese ceremonies for birth, puberty, maturity, marriage or death, then there are ceremonies on important holidays in the 250-day Balinese calendar such as Nyepi (day of silence), Galungan and Kuningan or ceremonies connected with natural phenomena (like a full moon). With these ceremonies and daily rituals, people are connecting with the gods, ancestors, families and community.
The offerings (sesajen) are made of agricultural products and are offered to these spirits daily. They are believed to maintain peace and balance on earth. The offering is more than a colorful hand woven box to locals and understanding this as a tourist can be powerful. Temples and rituals are part of why Bali culture is as special now as it was a thousand years ago, and as the only predominantly Hindu island in the Indonesian archipelago, it has such a unique offering for visitors.
About the Balinese cuisine
alinese cuisine is a cuisine tradition of Balinese people from the volcanic island of Bali. Using a variety of spices, blended with the fresh vegetables, meat and fish. Part of Indonesian cuisine, it demonstrates indigenous traditions, as well as influences from other Indonesian regional cuisine, Chinese and Indian. The island’s inhabitants are predominantly Hindu and culinary traditions are somewhat distinct with the rest of Indonesia, with festivals and religious celebrations including many special foods prepared as the offerings for the deities, as well as other dishes consumed communally during the celebrations.
Rice, the primary grain is almost always consumed as a staple accompanied with vegetables, meat and seafood. The pork, chicken, fruit, vegetables and seafood are widely utilized, however as in the most Hindu communities, beef is never or rarely consumed in this country.
Bali is a popular tourist destination, and the area has many cooking schools with daily courses of Balinese cuisine. Night markets, warungs (food stands), and fruit vendors sell local delicacies. Festivals include ornately prepared foods as part of the celebrations. As a popular tourist area, many westernized foods are also available as well.
LIFE IS UNCERTAIN. EAT DESSERT FIRST.
Ernestine Ulmer
Culture
