Balinese Culture

Indonesian Culture: BALI

Introduction about Culture :

• Kottak uses Tylor's definition of “culture:that complex whole which includes, knowledge, belief, arts, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society.”
• Enculturation is the process by which a child learns his or her culture.

Culture is Learned

tCultural learning is unique to humans.

tCultural learning is the accumulation of knowledge about experiences and information not perceived directly by the organism, but transmitted to it through symbols.

• tSymbols are signs that have no necessary or natural connection with the things for which they stand.
• tGeertz defines culture as ideas based on cultural learning and symbols.

tCulture is learned through both direct instruction and through observation (both conscious and unconscious).

tAnthropologists in the 19th century argued for the “psychic unity of man.”

• tThis doctrine acknowledges that individuals vary in their emotional and intellectual tendencies and capacities.
• tHowever, this doctrine asserted that all human populations share the same capacity for culture.

After we know what Culture is, I want to explain about some of Bali and Balinese culture. 

BALI

  Bali is an island and province of Indonesia. it covers 5,780 km2, or 5,577 km2 without Nusa Penida District, its population density is roughly 750 people/km2. Bali's central mountains include several peaks over 3,000 metres in elevation. The highest is Mount Agung (3,031 m), known as the "mother mountain" which is an active volcano. The largest city is the provincial capital, Denpasar, near the southern coast. Three small islands lie to the immediate south east and all are administratively part of the Klungkung regency of Bali: Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan. These islands are separated from Bali by the Badung Strait.

Balinese Culture

    Bali culture is steeped in a rich tradition and spirituality that focuses mainly on art and religion, with the two often expressed through each other. Most Balinese people are an artist of some kind and spend their leisure time working on hobbies and artwork that have been passed down through generations. Many public areas, homes and paddy fields are decorated by detailed paintings, intricate carvings, fine weaving, extraordinary rice decorations and artworks that pay religious homage.

   Bali's culture is a complex and diverse system that is highly adaptable and centres around the concept of time, place and situation or Desa, Kala, Patra as the locals call it. This notion asserts that traditional thought will harmoniously blend with the new and that reality is a coincidence of the material (Sekala) and the eternal (Niskala) and that one cannot exist without the other. According to Bali culture, the world is a product of the interactions between the material and the eternal.
  Each stage of Balinese life is marked by a series of ceremonies and rituals known as Manusa Yadnya. They contribute to the rich, varied and active life the average Balinese leads.

• Birth

Picture 2.1 Nelu Bulanin 

  The first ceremony of Balinese life takes place even before birth. Another ceremony takes place soon after the birth, during which the afterbirth is buried with appropriate offerings. The first major ceremony takes place halfway through the baby's first Balinese year of 210 days.

• Names

  Basically the Balinese only have four first names. The first child is Wayan or Putu, the second child is Made or Kadek, the third is Nyoman or Komang and the fourth is Ketut. The fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth will be another Wayan, Made, Nyoman, Ketut and Wayan again.

• Childhood

  The Balinese certainly love children and they have plenty of them to prove it. Coping with a large family is made much easier by the policy of putting younger children in the care of older ones. After the ceremonies of babyhood come ceremonies marking the stages of childhood and puberty, including the important tooth-filing ceremony.

• Marriage

Picture 2.2 Balinese Wedding Ceremony

Every Balinese expects to marry and raise a family, and marriage takes places at a comparatively young age. Marriages are not, in general, arranged as they are in many other Asian communities although strict rules apply to marriages between the castes. There are two basic forms of marriage in Bali - mapadik and ngorod. The respectable form, in which the family of the man visit the family of the woman and politely propose that the marriage take place, is mapadik. The Balinese, however, like their fun and often prefer marriage by elopement (ngorod) as the most exciting option. Of course, the Balinese are also a practical people so nobody is too surprised when the young man spirits away his bride-to-be, even if she loudly protests about being kidnapped. The couple go into hiding and somehow the girl's parents, no matter how assiduously they search, never manage to find her. Eventually the couple re-emerge, announce that it is too late to stop them now, the marriage is officially recognized and everybody has had a lot of fun and games. Marriage by elopement has another advantage apart from being exciting and mildly heroic it's cheaper.

• The Household

  There are many modern Balinese houses, but there are still a great number of traditional Balinese homes. The streets of Ubud; nearly every house will follow the same traditional walled design.

• Men & Women

  There are certain tasks clearly to be handled by women, and others reserved for men. Social life in Bali is relatively free and easy. In Balinese leisure activities the roles are also sex differentiated. Both men and women dance but only men play the gamelan. Today you do see some women painters, sculptors, and woodcarvers.

• Community Life

  Balinese have an amazingly active and organized village life. You simply cannot be a faceless nonentity in Bali. You can't help but get to know your neighbors as your life is so entwined and interrelated with theirs.

• Death & Cremation

Picture 2.3 Ngaben / Cremation Ceremony

There are ceremonies for every stage of Balinese life but often the last ceremony-cremation-is the biggest. A Balinese cremation can be an amazing, spectacular, colorful, noisy and exciting event. In fact it often takes so long to organize a cremation that years have passed since the death. During that time the body is temporarily buried. Of course an auspicious day must be chosen for the cremation and since a big cremation can be very expensive business many less wealthy people may take the opportunity of joining in at a larger cremation and sending their own dead on their way at the same time. Brahmans, however, must be cremated immediately. Apart from being yet another occasion for Balinese noise and confusion it's a fine opportunity to observe the incredible energy the Balinese put into creating real works of art which are totally ephemeral.

TRADITION

Picture 2.1 Geret Pandan or Mekare-kare

1. Geret Pandan or Mekare Kare (Unique tradition in Tenganan)

     Tenganan Village is one of the ancient village with a native Balinese. This village has a wide area of approximately 1,500 hectares. Houses and customs were retained as the original. This is because society of Tenganan has customary village rules are very powerful, which they call the awig-awig.

  The Perang Pandan is one of the famous tradition which has listed in Indonesian Tourism Annual Event. The humanity of a society is not just measured by how people treat their friends but how they care for their enemies. Held in the range of June until Tenganan village has a precious custom on a based community forest. This village has maintained their forest and all its contents for centuries. Their anchestors know the meaning of a forest for their sustainability life. 

2. Mekepung

Picture 2.2 Mekepung

  Makepung means chasing around and is the tradition of buffalo racing in Balinese society, especially for those who live in Jembrana regency.

  The tradition was initially a form of entertainment for the farmers, while they were plowing their fields, before planting the rice.

3. Omed-omedan    

  The tradition originate from a fight between a male and female pig that took place in the village hundreds of years ago. A represent the push and pull of positive and negative elements.

  Omed-omedan, which means pulling,  is a ceremony for the youths of the village to express their joy on the first day of the new year.

  Males and females stood side by side of the village main road while waiting the signal of Hindu leader then both sides approached the center of the road. Male participants pulled and kissed the female participants while other villagers poured buckets of water towards them.

picture 2.3 Omed-omedan 

That were little bit about balinese cultures and traditions. As we all know Bali is famous with many beautiful places. and here i am now to mention the best of many famous places in Bali.

Famous Places in Bali 

Picture 3.1 Uluwatu

1. Uluwatu Temple – Pura Luhur

  It is situated in the island commonly known as Bukit Peninsula, where it also include Bali’s few best beaches like Balangan and also has many good surfing spots. The temple is itself a majestic structure, constructed and expanded by many famous safes since in the 11th Century, it perched at the steep cliff of 70 meters above the Indian ocean.

2. Tanah Lot Temple

   Another majestic rock formation that lays as a foundation of a popular pilgrimage temple. It is most popular for its serenity and cultural significance as it is associated with the Balinese mythology as one of the seven temples that form a ring in the southwest of Bali.

Picture 3.2 Tanah Lot

3. Pura Ulun Danu Bratan (Bali’s temple by the lake)

Picture 3.3 Pura Ulun Danu Bratan

4.  Ubud

Picture 3.4 A Lady Selling Flowers for Ceremony in Ubud

Yes, despite that one might be trying to escape the eat, pray, love trail, Ubud is one place you cannot miss. It is still the heart of Bali, where all the action is and all the people and energy are focused on. Ubud is packed and condensed with the best of Bali, ranging from nature, culture and people, temples, museums, rolling rice/paddy fields and man-made gardens and parks.

5. Kuta Beach

Picture 3.5 Kuta Beach 

  Kuta is the most popular beach in Bali, which means you can be sure to find the life and party scene here in Kuta Beach. Head here if you are looking out to socialize, party and have a good time. You be sure to find a range of places for different atmosphere and budget, ranging from Hard Rock cafe to your neighborhood cafe and pub.

6. Nusa Dua Beach   

Picture 3.6 Private Villa in Nusa Dua

If you have a bit more of a budget to spare, splurge at Nusa Dua beach, where it is dotted with higher end hotels. You will be rewarded with private pristine beaches for you to slowly soak in the sun and the sea. Also ideal for honeymooners or people looking out for a private and relaxing getaway.

7. Ayana bar on rocks

Picture 3.7 Ayana Bar

We have two temples on the cliff, now we get to drink off the bar perched on yet another cliff at Ayana in Bali. This is known as the best bar in Bali, having a long line of people daily trying to get in and have a drink or two with some bites (which is surprisingly good) while overlooking the sea crashing into the rocks below. 

8. Coffee plantation at Bali Pulina Agro Tourism

Picture 3.8 Roasting Coffee Bali Agro Plantation

  An almost zen place for you to sit back and really appreciate your cup of coffee while overlooking the coffee plantation as far as the eye can see. Here you are served with various coffee and tea for tasting. You can also see the process of how the famous and expensive Kopi Luwak are made and even the civet cats themselves. If you are a coffee lover, do come check this place out for the ultimate coffee experience.

9. Monkey Forrest

Picture 3.9 Monkey Forrest

The Ubud Monkey Forest is a nature reserve and Hindu temple complex in Ubud, Bali. Its full name (as written on a welcome sign) is the Padangtegal Mandala Wisata Wanara Wana Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary. The Ubud Monkey Forest is a popular tourist attraction and is often visited by over 10,000 tourists a month.

References:

Powerpoint Binusmaya Human Diversities: Language, Gender, Ethnicity and Culture. slide 73 - 75, tahun 2015.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bali

http://www.travelonline.com/bali/information/bali-culture.html

http://about.bali-paradise.com/culturecustoms.html

http://allindonesiatravel.com/top-10-must-visit-see-places-in-bali/

http://indonesia-now.com/bali/omed-omedan-of-balinese-traditional-ceremony/