What does Arjuna’s Path to Enlightenment Have to do With World Peace?
If we want to understand Balinese culture, we have to look deeply into its complex roots. Just as a tree draws its essence from an intricate and dispersed root system, the essence of today’s Balinese culture draws from ancient beliefs in animism and a pantheon of gods and ancestors, and the much later absorption of
The Javanese Mangku of The Natar Sari Temple
The faithful were now all gone, and all that remained was only scattered on the ground, the remains of the offerings: torn coconut leaves and trampled flowers; the air was moist and filled with the scent of burned-out incense mixed with the strong odor of the drying earth. It was all over now and, his
Panji Semirang and the Golden Doll
The Majapahit, between the years 1293 to circa 1500, was once a great empire in South East Asia. It’s centre was in East Java and in fact it was this empire where the idea of ‘Nusantara’, or a great archipelagic nation, was born. The reach of Majapahit stretched as far as Burma, all the way
Gecko the Home God
Gecko may be small, but he had a giant-sized problem; at least according to an interesting Balinese folktale about this lizard. Every night he was awakened by the fireflies outside his window. And when Gecko didn’t get his rest, he got a little grumpy. So he went to Elephant as the head of the village
Refusing to Become a Mangku Priest
Who are the priests in Bali? Most of you have probably seen pictures of high priests, the pedandas, or even seen them on the roads or in temples. They are easily recognisable because they tie their long hair into a knot on top of their heads or wear a tiara while reading mantras. Pedandas are
Aswino Aji’s Artistic Observations of the Ego in the Face of Balinese Culture
An acute sense of observation is an essential talent for a contemporary artist. The ability to scrutinise and reflect on one’s own conduct and thoughts, along with that of the collective, is a doorway to art rich in meaning. For more than a decade Balinese artist Made Aji Aswino has been an avid onlooker and
The Magic of Finding Love in Bali
Out of the many rites of passage a Balinese person undergoes in life, getting married is probably one of the most important ones. With that being said, what if love seems impossible to achieve? Well, there are ways around that in Bali. The most romantic of all celebrations, Valentine’s Day, is pretty common nowadays. Yes,
The Curse from the ‘Niskala’ Unseen World
A story about Sekala and Niskala, the seen and unseen world or forces, that are believed to exist in Bali. Dr. Jean Couteau brings yet another one of his Balinese stories – sometimes myth, sometimes a mystery, but always meaningful: These are the objective facts: Gobler was tired. It was night, and he wanted to get home before
Satya Cipta – the Rise of a Unique Female Balinese Talent
A beautiful, naked woman with long flowing hair sits legs raised, feet positioned above her head. In her left hand she is holding a red lotus flower covering her groin. “Fragrance” an intimate, yet daring sketch by Balinese artist Satya Cipta ‘speaks’ of the feminine physical, and worldly splendour, and according to the artist, a
Tri Hita Karana : Explaining the Balance in Bali
The Balinese – and other Indonesian – culture(s) managed to achieve a high level of sophistication without any excessive pressure upon the balance of Mother Nature. I am sure all of you, all readers, love bananas. They are ubiquitous in Bali. On roadsides, in back gardens, but weirdly enough, not in plantations. Why? Very simply
Tajen Bali : The Island’s Ritual Cockfight
If you ever happen to notice a long line of Hondas parked along a narrow road, or men discreetely rushing along with a rattan basket slung over their shoulder, chances are they are off to a cockfight or tajen. Cockfighting is as natural to the Balinese as breathing. Long after it was officially banned by
The Myth About Balinese Dreadlocks
Please don’t get fooled by the title, for this is no article on upbeat fashion and style. Rather, this is a story about how one’s path in life – a Balinese man in this case – is determined by his hair. We are talking about dreadlocks, the kind of hairstyle celebrated by the Rastafarians. In
The Spiritual Sounds of the Gamelan
By now you might have overdoses on the dynamic clanks and clonks of the gamelan, Bali’s traditional orchestra comprised of several musical instruments. This is particularly the case on “good dates”, or auspicious days, where religious rites take place around the island and the sound of the gamelan echo all around. Whilst the musical range
