Bali - the overrated destination

Bali – the island

Vishnu riding Garuda
Garuda happens to be the national symbol of Indonesia

One among the most famous tourist destinations in the eastern part of the globe; Bali stands out for its beaches, hills, temples (puras), mount Batur and Mount Agung. From a general tourist perspective, the destination is overrated but it has a culture of its own that is unique. Hinduism is the main religion on this island - a Hinduism which appears to be very different from what is generally in vogue in India. Other religions are Islam, Buddhism, and Christianity.

Pura Besakih is the sacred most temple (Mother temple) and Mount Agung is the most revered place as the abode of gods.

Culture

A worshipper performing midday prayer ceremony

The Balinese culture underlines the importance of Nature and harmony in life and the universe. They worship three times a day, observe numerous ceremonies in their homes as well as in the puras. They worship Nature, various Hindu gods and goddesses, and their ancestors whose spirits they believe are born back into the family. Chanting of the Gayatri mantra is a must. They seek a harmonious relationship among all in conformity with Nature. Fortunately, environmentally the most disastrous Hindu festival of Diwali is not known to them. There is no restriction on the Hindus eating beef or burying their dead (only the priestly class is forbidden from partaking of beef or burying their dead). In fact, cremation on a pyre is practiced only for the priestly class. A commoner just can’t afford cremation owing to the costs involved. I stayed at a BnB facility run by a Hindu family and came to know a lot about their traditions, practices, and beliefs.

No temple entry during your periods, Ma'm.

The festivals they celebrate include; Galungan (to mark the triumph of good over evil), Kuningan (the purification ceremony for the visiting spirits of the ancestors), and Nyepi (the day of reflection and repentance). Nyepi also marks the start of the new year as per the Saka calendar. This day is a day of complete silence. Nothing moves in Bali for 24 hours during the Nyepi celebrations. The airport is closed and the tourists are advised to stay inside their hotel rooms. This they call a day of reflection. All the Balinese are supposed to stay indoors with curtains drawn and lights switched off. The Nyepi code is strictly adhered to and the foreign visitors are not spared either. Nyepi is a national holiday in Indonesia. This year it was on the 7^th of March.

Pura Uluwatu

Their secular way of life

Though there are many religions in Indonesia – Islam being the prominent one, a uniform culture is prevalent all over the archipelago. It is culture rather than any religion that gives a secular form to the lifestyle of the Indonesian people. Unlike us in India, they don’t beat the drums of sham secularism. However, in practice, I find the Indonesian people very open-minded and truly secular. Inter religion marriages have a wider acceptance in Bali as well as in other parts of the country. In Indonesia the names like; Gita, Maya, saraswati, Ritu, Ratna, Dewi, just to mention a few, are the names of Muslim women. The driver who took me from the airport to the hotel was Vishnu – a Muslim.

Wood, stone, and bone carving.

In Ubud and Gianyar areas of Bali, there are many workshops carving wood, stone, and animal bones. The way the skulls, horns, and other bones of animals are intricately carved is marvelous. I picked up a few souvenirs from one of the workshop cum sales counters. They showed me their storeroom full of buffalo skulls with a heap those freshly prepared for carving and some carved ones as a part of an export order to Holland. Wonderful indeed.

Some photos

A shop selling crafted souvenirs

A Hindu graveyard and the graves (below)

Barong - the mythical benevolent figure in the Balinese culture with the head of a lion.

Nakula & Sahdeva on a pedestal near the airport. 

Bhima of the Pandavas slaying a sea monster with his killer nail.