The development of Balinese civilization has a quite long history. The first evidences of human appearance in Bali date back to the Stone Age, tens of thousands years ago, with the founding of few artifacts that are believed to be reminiscent of small bands of hunter-gatherers. From that time civilization in Bali develops, and survives until present days. It is obvious that during thousands years of development many outside influences have great contribution in shaping the Balinese civilization, and among many sources of significant outside influences, the sages from Java gave significant contribution to religious, social, and political aspect of Balinese civilization.

Many Javanese sages came to Bali but only three of them gave significant influences to Balinese civilization; they were Rsi Markandya, Mpu Kuturan, and Danghyang Nirartha.

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Temple and societies in Bali has a unique bond in which a temple serves as part of identity of a society. All traditional Balinese social unit from households to kingdoms, possess their own temples where offerings are offered to the deities concerned with their affairs, for example market deities in the market temple, ancestors in the household and clan temple. In other words, each social unit forms congregation of specific temple or shrines, which symbolically defines its place in Balinese social universe.

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Tonight is full moon here in Bali, and of course full moon in Bali offers something more than ordinary days especially in Denpasar where full-moon fever reach its highest point compare to other areas in Bali; but what is the good thing to do on a full moon in Denpasar.

Well, for those who want to enjoy full moon in solitude, enjoying a moonrise from good old Sanur beach or from the restaurants along the beach is surely a great thing to do. Enjoying the reflection of the moonlight on the ocean with two or three anglers casting their net unaware of the beauty of the surrounding is what you can get in Sanur in addition to the rise of the moon from vast ocean.

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On February 7, 2008, Chinese Lunar New Year celebrating is being held in Griya Kongco Dwipayana. Here are some photos of Imlek celebration in Grya Kongco Dwipayana, a join temple of Tao, Buddha, and Hindu in Denpasar on Thursday 2/7/08.

Grya Kongco Dwipayana is a unique worshipping place, here three faiths; Tao, Buddha and Hindu mix peacefully. Here you can find the Padmasana and Pelinggih of the Hindu, Buddha Parinibhana statue, and Kwan Im statue of Buddhist and Tao altars complete with its gods and goddess.

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Here is an interesting piece of writing on Balinese Giant Demon Puppet (ogoh-ogoh) taken from Scott A Johnsen’s thesis which is entitled From Royal House to Nation: The Construction of Hinduism and Balinese Ethnicity In Indonesia.

Another aspect of the ogoh-ogoh debate having implications for the use of custom / culture / religion categories concerns the fact that some makers of these figures include realistic genitalia in their depictions of demons. A massive government campaign was underway during my fieldwork to stamp out pornographic video CDs and other examples of porno. Hindu Council officials were instructing gathered local officials that ogoh-ogoh should not be made with genitals, and furthermore that this was the responsibility of the entire village (desa), not simply the ward (banjar) making the ogoh-ogoh. I only saw one example of a “porno” ogoh-ogoh, in a village in Gianyar; however, this was well into the campaign to educate the public.

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The rapid development of industry and economic activities in Bali not just bring a new dynamic to Balinese daily life but also contribute a new nuance to Balinese religion. The establishment of offices, governmental offices, banks, factories, malls, restaurants, shops, etc is usually followed by the establishment of a shrine in front of the shops or a small temple in the vicinity of the offices, factories, malls, etc especially on the northeastern area of the locale.

Small enterprises such as shops or boutiques or small offices usually build only a small Padmasana (Seat of God) shrines which are dedicated to god but in some areas they are dedicated to the goddess of fortune and trader (Dewi Melanting). These shrines have no anniversary date so no anniversary rituals are presented only small daily offerings, only in auspicious days such as full moon or new moon bigger and more elaborate offerings are presented. These shrines are maintained by the owner of the enterprises or by the land owners.

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