Welcome to Indonesia, to Bali, to the island of offerings.
A Balinese way of life
Daily ritual on the island of offerings
It’s a must in Bali, one of the first things you notice when you set foot on the Island of the Gods.
Indeed, everywhere in the streets, you see sorts of small baskets filled with flower petals, grains of rice, biscuits, cigarettes, and incense.
This custom, therefore, consists of depositing daily offerings everywhere.
It is part, in a way, of a ritual to give back, to share, what has been given by God. This ancestral custom, most often carried out by women, remains essential to the religious life of the Balinese.
As soon as you arrive in Bali, it is therefore above all, on the ground, on the sidewalks, and in front of the houses that you will see the offerings.
As your stay progresses, you will in fact see them everywhere, on the front of a scooter, on the branches of a tree, on the stairs of your various hotel rooms, in the rice fields, on the windshield of a car, on your booked villas in Bali.
Absolutely everywhere. Indeed, in Bali, there are offerings for many occasions, to celebrate the God of the ancestors, or to appease the demons.
Offerings, a well-established Balinese tradition
Offerings, a local tradition that enchants and intrigues all travelers passing through Bali.
This ancestral Balinese rite has existed for several centuries and continues today, from generation to generation. So much so that it is an integral part of the local culture and beliefs.
The presence of the sacred remains omnipresent thanks to the countless and magnificent ceremonies in traditional dress. All this, for the greatest pleasure of your eyes.
Religion occupies a considerable place here on a daily basis, and Bali thus deserves its nickname as the Island of God.
Cosmic Harmony
The Balinese feel, in a way, responsible for maintaining cosmic order through the symbolic effectiveness of this type of ritual.
Therefore, in their eyes, these offerings help to preserve and maintain peace in the world.
Positive or negative, all the forces of the universe are therefore honored in order to balance the distribution of energies. This is how life unfolds, on a daily basis, on the island of offerings.
In Bali, the philosophy of balance reigns supreme.
3 types of offerings in Bali
“Canang Sari”, thanks to the Gods and ancestors
The preparation of the offerings
First of all, know that the offerings last for one day. Every morning, the housewife takes care of preparing them by hand, meticulously. The disposition of the offering remains very precisely codified by the Balinese tradition.
The ceremony will always end with short prayers and the spreading of incense. You will love watching the graceful, slow gestures of the women during this ritual. They remain concentrated and recite the prayers despite the incessant ambient noise.
Thus, here, daily, the Balinese show recognition and gratitude to the Hindu Gods and ancestors, through ceremonies. You will always find this type of offering placed high up and on the altars.
Indeed, to the deities, they offer the beautiful and the good.
The prayers, according to belief, thus make it possible to maintain the balance between paradise and hell. For the Balinese, all this, therefore, brings serenity and peace to the earth.
The meaning of the flowers chosen for the offerings
The flowers contained in these baskets will first be soaked in sacred spring water.
In fact, let’s first talk about the colors of the flowers: white, red, blue (sometimes green), or yellow.
The white petals towards the East represent the God Iswara (lord of nature).
The reds towards the South represent Brahma (God’s creation of all that exists).
The blue ones towards the North represent Vishnu (God’s protector).
Finally, the yellows towards the West represent Mahadeva (the great God, one and only).
Many Balinese families still make these offering baskets. Nevertheless, others also buy them in the early morning on the markets.
Appease demons with offerings
Indeed, these offerings are each morning, simply deposited on the ground in order to appease the demons. It is therefore the opposite of the “Canang Sari”, always placed in height, in order to thank a deity.
So much so that the Balinese think that while paying homage to the Gods, one must also be attentive to satisfying the Demons. Alcohol faded, rotten flowers, and spoiled food compose, are the offerings. Indeed, ravenous demons do not distinguish good things from bad. It is therefore the opposite of offerings to the Gods, which are very refined.
In Bali, the belief in evil spirits, therefore, remains as important as the belief in benevolent spirits.
Demons, named Bhuta and Kala, are monsters. By the offerings presented, the goal of the Balinese is not to make these demons disappear. Indeed, it seems impossible since they are part of the universe. All they want is for them to be happy enough so that they don’t come forward and let the people live in peace.
If you happen to stomp on a Segehan Offering, don’t worry, it’s no big deal. Indeed, it is above all the act of depositing the offering which counts, then, that the tourists walk on it, that the dogs feed on it does not really matter anymore.
Gebogan, the offerings to the Temples
Sometimes, you see in the street, Balinese women wearing high multi-colored mounted pieces on their heads.
These are the “Gebogan”, spectacular offerings made up of cakes, fruits, eggs, and flowers. The women thus bring them to the temple, stacked on their heads. It’s impressive to see. You often encounter this type of scene on the island of offerings.
Finally, when the prayer is over, they collect their offerings in order to consume them with the whole family at home.
Offerings, a philosophy of life
Unlike many other religious customs, the Balinese do not lay offerings in hopes of gaining favor from the gods or fleeing from bad luck. No, it is quite the contrary, a simple permanent, and obvious act of gratitude.
They thus say thank you, every morning, for life, the successes reaped, the good times spent, rather than regretting something, rather than hoping to win at games of chance. The important thing is simply to appreciate what you have, rather than feeling sorry for what you don’t have.
A beautiful philosophy of positive life that also shines through on a daily basis, in the attitude of the Balinese.
Bali is another world strewn with offerings
To sum up, you will have understood, that all you have to do is walk in the streets of Bali to find yourself in a completely different universe, another perception of the world. On the island of offerings, around 90% of the population claims to be Hindu and, therefore, the opportunities for celebrations and processions remain endless. Balinese Hinduism is a blend of Indian philosophy, Buddhism, and indigenous animist beliefs. Spirituality is a way of life in Bali.
You have to come to the Island of the Gods to understand this special, mysterious, and bewitching ambiance and atmosphere.
You will see how rituals and temples punctuate the daily life of the majority of Balinese.
