According to Balinese legends, the island is inhabited by many spirits and demons. Mythological gods and goddesses are inseparably connected with nature — the wind, the ocean, trees, fire, stones. To appease the spirits, locals have held ceremonies since ancient times. Moreover, they take place 2–3 times a week. These authentic traditions truly delight tourists. Read on to learn about the most interesting ceremonies in Bali
Daily offerings to gods and spirits
Every tourist has seen small baskets with fruit and flowers on the streets. These are canang — daily offerings in Bali for spirits and gods. The baskets are made from banana leaves, because the banana tree is considered sacred. The contents can vary, but most often they include rice, boiled eggs, fruit, or homemade sweets. They are blessed with incense. It looks very exotic. Canang is made every morning, and people take this practice very seriously
If you see a girl with a basket of fruit and flowers on her head, know that it is canang sari. Many local girls are taught from childhood how to carry these baskets properly so the weight is evenly distributed
Life-cycle ceremonies
Every stage of a person’s life is connected with a ceremony: from birth to farewell. In this case, rituals help change a status, draw a line separating the past from the present and the future. The whole community gathers, guests bring food, fruit, flowers. They are laid out on cloths on the ground. The ritual itself is performed according to the rules in a temple
An eastern kingdom of dance and music
Many Balinese ceremonies are accompanied by exotic dances and traditional musical instruments. These include the gong — a metal plate, the banjo — a plucked string instrument, as well as various rattles. The function of these instruments is to drive away evil spirits and cleanse the space
Dance is not just a way to express feelings — it is a protective ritual. Every gesture is a symbol, and cultural researchers decode these movements. It’s amazing that the dances hardly change over the centuries. Balinese people carefully preserve their traditions and pass them down from generation to generation without changes
For ceremonies in Bali, it is customary to choose bright, festive clothing. Traditionally, local outfits combine bold, expressive colors — rich shades with characteristic ornaments and symbols. Remember that you can enter a temple only wearing a special garment — a sarong. They are sold everywhere, so you shouldn’t have difficulty finding one
Bali is one of those corners of the Earth where traditions matter deeply. Balinese people have more holidays than working days in a year. This makes it even more likely that during your trip you will enjoy the colorful exotic ceremonies and rituals. Open your heart to Bali’s culture together with OpenSoulRetreat on the “Heart of Bali” retreat tour
