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“SUBAK“ an organization of farmers in Bali.

Bali Farmer

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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Nyepi Day - Silent Day

Temple

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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Ngaben The Cremation Ceremony in Bali

wadah.jpgNgaben 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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Galungan Day - the Balinese Thanks Giving Day

penjorNext 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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Tanah Lot Kite Festival 2008

Tanah Lot eventMessage 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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Bali Culture Festival 2008

Images of the Opening ceremony

Bali Cultural Festival

Bali Cultural Festival

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Penglipuran Village - Balinese Traditional Village

Penglipuran VillageToday, 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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Bali Arts Festival 2008

Bali Arts FestivalBali 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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Bintang Flores Hotels - Brand New 4 stars Hotel In Labuanbajo - Flores island

Bintang Flores HotelBintang 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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Religions in Bali

There were and are many authors who wrote numbers of books about Bali and million of people believe that Bali is a Hindu island. YES it is, but NOT 100%.  So far I did not find a single book, or may be there is who wrote about the Christian of Bali, about the Buddhist of Bali and or Moslem of Bali, though numbers are not comparable with Hinduism.

Today, I come to you with a story of religions and each believers who are all Balinese leave in harmony in a community or some of them are in a family. There are about 90% Hindus, 5% are Christian, 3% are Moslem and another 2% are Buddhist. Most of them are originally Balinese, some are Javanese, Flores, Timor, Sumba, Sumatra, Celebes, Irian Jaya who were born in BALI or leave in this Island for years.

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