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Bamboo in Balinese Life

Monday, April 9th, 2007 by Sidarta Wijaya

Bamboo, called tiing by Balinese is an indispensable part of Balinese culture. In Bali bamboo is not grown within the house compound. Balinese believe that if the bamboo sprouts by itself within a house compound it is allowed to remain, but its growth is discouraged by indirect means. Such is the magic bamboo that only old people may tackle the dangerous job of digging it out and only in certain days that work concerning bamboo may be safely undertaken. But the Balinese life and culture would have develop along different lines had bamboo not existed on the island.

bali bamboo
flickr.com/photos/mikeintokyo/

There are 15 or more bamboo varieties in Bali and each variety has its own quality that is needed by the Balinese. A variety called tiing tali (tali means “thread” or “string”) is made into thin bamboo strips and the strips are the common ties for almost every purpose. The strip of tiing tali holds lids on baskets, lashes scaffolding together, holds decorations on to their support, and serves to fasten myriad other devices.

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