Way of Life

Bali is densely populated island. Most of the population live in closely packed villages of 2,000 to 4,000 people on the fertile southern slopes of the islands, along the ridges that carry the irrigation ditches. On these slopes it is usually only a fifteen minute walk from one village to another through open rice fields. On the northern coastal strips, the villages a spread along the Java sea. Traditionally the social organization of the islands was based on the village, with each village being completely self-sufficient, providing all the need and function from birth through cremation.

Recently, as in all industrilizing countries, the cities and tourist centers are absorping a portion of the population from the countryside and centralizing, to some extent, the flow of goods and services. The social organization of the villages is one of the most unique aspects of this enchanting island. The village is very much communal unit, almost an extended family. The layout of a Balinese village and life of its member are closely tied to religion and the religious life of the people. The main community organization is the Banjar, which plans all ceremonies, including marriages and cremations, as well as mediates disputes that may arise within the community. Every village has at least one Banjar, which have an average membership of 50 to 100 families. Each Banjar has a central meeting place, the Bale Banjar.

Special Days / Festivals

Every temple and shrine has a special date for annual ceremony, or "Odalan" every 210 days, including the smaller ancestral shrines that each familly possesses. Because of this practically every few days a ceremony of festival of some kind takes some village in Bali.

Galungan

Galungan is literally a celebaration of the creation of the universe, in which the Supreme God. Creator of the universe is Worshiped, and all ancestral spirits called to come down to earth and dwell again in homes the family shrines and graceful "Penjor", tall arching bamboo decorates with palm leaves and flower, as well as small bamboo altars bearing intricately woven palm-leaf "lamaks", placed at gate of each home.

Kuningan

Ten days after Galungan, this is the day on which the ancestor are bidden farewell with more offerings and freshly woven "Lamaks", and the barongs take to the roads converting along with their troupes of following children.

Nyepi

Balinese New Year's day according the Caka Calendar this is a day inactivity and silence throughout the island 24-hour. Fires may not be lit so cooking must be done the day before. Great purification offerings are made in every village on the day before to appease the evil spirits and general exorcism is held. that evening large gangs of children roam the villages dressed in garnish attire and bearing burning torches, chanting and banging on homemade cymbals to scare the evil spirits away. Traditionally the day of Nyepi is spent at home fasting, in a prayer and meditation, but only more religious Brahman famillies follow this custom.

Saraswati

A special day is devoted to Saraswati, the Goddess of learning science and literature, once a year according to Wuku Calendar. On this day no one is allowed to read or write, and offering are made to the lontar, palm-leaf books, and books.