Text: Ann Bouwma

Photography: Roy Tee

Rice is one of the most important crops on earth. It is daily food for more than half of the world population and more rice is needed every day. On Bali rice is not merely on your plate, it is all around you. In fields, in temples, on foreheads. Rice here is a wealth, the centre of culture.

“Awas, bu!” When you have only just arrived on Bali and the tropical heat is embracing you sweetly, you sometimes don’t pay much attention to where you walk. Thus I have landed my feet on an offering. Not that this is a difficult task to perform. The main religion on Bali is Hinduism and the feats of folded palm leaf and coloured rice are often placed in the middle of the street, preferably in front of an entrance or exit. “Maaf, ya”, I mumble nodding at some young Balinese women, who watch my clumsiness with a smile.

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Once upon a time, Bhatara Guru (the head of Gods) who resides in heaven held a great ceremony. It is a tradition that each god should help in the preparation of the ceremony. But the great dragon Ananta Boga looked so sad since he could not help anything because did not have a hand or foot. It made him sad, he cried alone, but a miracle occurred, his tears that touch land turn into three eggs. He took those eggs on his mouth; he planned to give Bhatara Guru the eggs as a consolation for his inability in helping the preparation of ceremony.

On the way, he met another god, the god greeted him, when he answered two of his eggs fell into earth and hatched. One produced a rat and the other a boar. Realizing his mistake, Ananta Boga kept silence on the rest of the way, until he arrived in front of Bhatara Guru. He told Bhatara Guru what happened on him, and presented the remaining egg. Bhatara Guru accepted the egg.

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Flooded irrigated fields of stalk rice; deep mud artificially constructed (often terraced) and continuously cultivated with rice.

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