The entire island of Bali is sub-divided into unique village organizations of approximately 100 households each that are united under a common banner known as the banjar. Functioning as a community of close family members and neighbours, the banjar plays a significant role in the planning and execution of many of the religious and social activities that are an intrinsic part of everyday Balinese life.

All married Balinese males belong to the banjar and are obliged to attend regular meetings at the village hall to discuss neighbourhood issues. The banjar is not just a casual club and there are strict rules and regulations that must be adhered to. Some banjar associations even go as far to penalize their members with small fines for not showing up at a meeting without a valid excuse. Each banjar also has a youth group, association for women and orchestra of traditional gamelan musicians.

The banjar engages in various group projects for the benefit of the whole community and as followers of the Hindu religion everyone worships together in the same collection of village temples. Members also donate their time to prepare and participate in important local religious ceremonies; be it a temple anniversary or rite of passage such as death, wedding or tooth filing. The women take care of making the offerings that are used for the ceremonial rites to appease the Gods, while the menfolk busy themselves with all the arrangements for the accompanying customary feast.

Whilst the banjar has a religious and cultural role within Balinese society, it also serves as the most accessible link to the government. Banjar leaders are in close communication with government officials. The banjar takes responsibility for local security through the issue of national identity cards and a neighbourhood watch system is in pace in the event of an emergency or to identify suspicious characters who are new to the area.

The village banjar is a tight knit organization and members willingly involve themselves in all social and religious duties that must be initiated. The Balinese rely heavily on each other and the general philosophy within the community is that ‘one good deed is invariably repaid by another’.

The banjar meeting hall is known as the bale banjar and this is usually a pavilion structure with three open sides. Balinese of all ages like to gather socially in the cool shade of the banjar hall throughout the course of the day and well into the night to enjoy the company of friends, practice music, watch music, and play a set of badminton or just leisurely pass their spare time.

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