About Balinese
Pages: 1 2
Balinese ancient belief is that good spirits stay up-high in the mountains and that the bad spirits stay beneath seas. The Balinese are extremely devout, in a sense that practically no days go by without making offerings to the gods. These daily offerings, called ‘Banten’ are a major part of Balinese life. You will see these offerings nearly everywhere in Bali. Composed from various items which can vary, such as of flowers, cigarettes, cookies, rice and even sometimes money. The essence is that the actual items used are not as important as the process of making and offering it to the good spirits in hopes of continued prosperity, as well as, to the evil spirits as an appeasement. These offerings play an important role in Balinese life, as they are thought as an appeasement for the spirits and thus brings prosperity and good health to the family. A daily ordinary activity that after finish cooking in a common Balinese family home, either the mother, the daughter or (usually) any woman in the family, place a simple ‘banten saiban’ (small simple “samples” of today’s food), at certain spots around home, such as kitchen, front gate, well’s edge, garden, back yard, rice stock container, and the family’s ‘Merajan’ (private shrine) as an offering to spirits around home. In some other outer home places like shops, business office, etc., instead ‘Canang Sari’ (a more complete offering within a tray) containing pieces of food, fruits, flowers and money will be placed on certain places like temples around, cross roads, shops’ entrance, etc..
‘Odalan’ (holiday festivals) smaller or bigger ones, which exist so many, thus often happen, are another great occasion for comforting the Gods, where usually, women will bear on their heads a tall, beautifully arranged pyramids of fruits, cakes, food and flowers, whereas men contribute blood sacrifice in the form of cock fightings. There are also traditional dances and ‘Gamelan’ (the traditional music instruments), where the Gods are invited to come down to join in the festivals.