Canang is one the simplest form of offerings Hindu people presented to the gods. Canang sari consist of beautifully shaped palm leaves which, then respectively added porosan (made of betel leaves which mixed with areca nut, gambier and lime stone then rolled in a tiny palm leaves), a slice of banana and sugar cane and a small piece of kekiping ( a thin cakes made of sticky rice). Afterward, colorful flowers will be added and sam-sam or kembang rampe (finely shredded pandan leaves) will completed the look.
Though simple, each part of Canang bear spiritual significance. The intricately shaped palm leaves symbolize sincerity, areca nut resemble Lord Brahma, Gambier for Lord Vishnu and Lime stone for Lord Shiva. Each color of the flowers also symbolize each gods. White for Isvara, Red for Brahma, Yellow for Mahadeva, Blue for Vishnu and the green kembang rampe symbolized Sang Hyang Panca Dewata.
You can find canang everywhere in Bali. In temples shrine, on the streets, on the gate, on cars and motorbike and even on working table. Balinese believes that canang sari have a special purifying power that can evoke spiritual vibration. Canang also an essential part of Balinese daily life. Every afternoon, all Balinese will do their routine daily prayer. Canang is one of the main prayer ensemble apart from dupa (incense), bunga (flower), tirta (holy water) and bija (holy rice), in which I will described later on my next post.
Canang has also become a livelihood for some Balinese. In the old days, every housewives or girls make canang for their own family. But now, many people opted to buy canang since it is more practical and saves lots of time. But many people still live the tradition by making their own canang.
No matter what, canang will always be the main prayers tool used by Balinese. Its beautiful appearance and sweet scented fragrance will always become and icon for Bali.
Posted in: Bali Travel Articles.
Bali Farmer
The word “subak” was originally found in Kediri-East Java a Hindu Kingdom in 14th century and then brought to Bali by the Hinduism when this Kingdom was conquered by the Moslem and kept until nowadays.
Subak is an organization of farmers in an area where rice fields are located to manage water to irrigate their rice fields, includes water supply, and to build a temple.
The temple (=pura in local language) is called Pura Subak. Every month the subak members will come together in the temple to discuss matters concerning the subak, water supply, the harvest and the celebration of the anniversary day of the subak temple. They worship Dewi Sri, the rice Goddess.
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Posted in: Bali Travel Articles.
Tagged: bali · bali farmers · rice field · rice teraces · subak
Temple
On 26th March 2009, Balinese Hindus will be celebrated Nyepi Day. I hope you can spend 2 minutes to read this story from the Island of Thousand Temples
On Nyepi Day at early morning of……(around 01.00AM) the lamp in the road will be turn –off. It sign that NYEPI will be coming soon. Nyepi means quite. On Nyepi, Hindu,s are suggested to fast and regret on their mistakes during a year. It is actually dedicated to introspection which is well-known as “Holy Meditation Day”, therefore the people must be able to bridle its desire.
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Posted in: Bali Travel Articles.
Ngaben is one of Hindu’s great ceremony in Bali where the corpse is burnt, accompanied by holly songs and offerings. Hindu’s believe that ngaben will return the soul of a dead person to their abode in heaven or send the dead through a transition to his next life. Ngaben is also a form of a respect to their parents by releasing the soul from worldly attachment. Families that conduct ngaben ceremony generally try not to cry at the grave yard since they believe that tears would only incommode the deceased journey to their eternal abode.
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Posted in: Bali Travel Articles.
Next month, on 20 August 2008, the Balinese Hindu will be celebrating Galungan Day.
Galungan Day is one of the Hinduism biggest ceremony in Bali which is celebrated in every six month according to the Balinese calendar. At the Galungan Day the Balinese celebrate the victory of the good conquered the bad.
In every villages in Bali, we can easily find line of decorated bamboo pool called “Penjor” which plated and stand beautifully in front of each houses.
In the morning at that day, there are women, men and children all in Balinese traditional dress walk on the street to go to their temple. The women bring offering called “Pajegan” contains of different and colorful fruits, cakes, coconut leaf and flowers which is arranged in a stack about 1 meter high and put on their head. When they arrived in the temple, they will pray together lead by the Hindu’s Priest called “Pemangku”.
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Posted in: Bali Travel Articles.
Tagged: bali · bali festival · balinese ceremony · galungan · galungan day
Message from Tanah Lot Bali…
Playing kite is very popular in younger generation, because of the power and sense of friendship in which be formed kite player group (sekaa layangan). Now days, playing kite is expending, children and younger boy played this kite as hobbies, besides as culture preservation.
The meaning of playing kite full of religious valve and society life of Balinese people, and this can we see from the symbol of “Sang Hyang Rare Angon” as the god of wind.
It made a special interesting for the tourist, as an attraction to Tanah Lot especially and Bali generally.
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Posted in: Bali Travel Articles.
Tagged: bali · tanah lot · tanah lot bali · tanah lot kite festival
Today, I am very glad to inform you one of interesting place to visit in Bali called traditional village of Penglipuran. This village can be reached throught roads connecting district of Bangli with Kintamani. Penglipuran villlage is well-known for its 75 hectare bamboo forest located in the northern part of the village. From Bangli town to the north up to Kubu Village about 5 kilometers, then have a left turn, one will arrive at Penglipuran and will be received with warm welcome by the villagers. The air is fresh because it is located at 700 meters above sea level. From historical point of view, according to the village elders,
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Posted in: Bali Travel Articles.
Tagged: bali · bali tradtional village · bali villages · penglipuran
Bali is renowned for having maintained its traditional culture against the sweeping tides of the Bali calendar event modern world. In many parts of the Island, Life goes on as it has for centuries, with rhythms of ritual, creativity and culture still serving as a community compass, here the arts are woven into everyday, making Bali a World Center of music, dance and visual arts.
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Posted in: Bali Travel Articles.
Tagged: bali · bali arts · Bali Arts Festival · Bali Arts Festival 2008 · bali cultural · bali cultural festival
May 6th, 2008
by wpadmin.
Bintang Flores Hotel - Brand New 4 stars Hotel will be open on May 2008.
This hotel is located in Labuanbajo - West Flores, a small city as gateway to Komodo island - home of Komodo Dragons (Varanus Komodoensis)
“Bintang” mean star. Yes, Bintang Flores Hotel will be a stars in Flores Island. This is the only four-stars hotel in this area. This hotel will be a place truly make you filled with very interesting and memorable experience.
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Posted in: Flores Island.
Tagged: bintang flores · flores · flores hotel · Flores Island · hotel
