CanangBali Culture A to Z

A

- Antonio Blanco Museum -

The Blanco Renaissance Museum in Ubud is the art gallery of Don Antonio Blanco. He passed away, but the museum is administered by his son, Mario Blanco, who inherits his spirit and continues to find success through his own paintings. In the western taste floor that is reformed Blanco’s house, there are many exhibitions that draw Legong Dance of Bali and his grandchild, etc. through 1st and 2nd floors.

- Arma Museum -

This is also one of the famous museums in Ubud. ARMA is beyond a normal museum, but it is the hot spots of art. They hold exhibition of arts, playing, painting lesson, workshop, library, seminor, etc. Kecak Dance is performed only on the day of new moon and full moon is really dynamic.

- Art Center -

National Art University in Denpasar offers education for young artists. Art Center nearby the university is the sanctuary of Bali fine arts which has the museum and the open stage and so on in the broad site. In every year, for one month from June, very famous Bali Art Festival is held and artists from Indonesia and overseas visit there.

B

- Bajera Sandi -

Bajra Sandhi is in Renon district in east Denpasar. It is the governmental business area where Bali Governmental office and Japanese Consulate, etc. gathering. Bajra Sandhi stands out with the beautiful silhouette tower in these buildings, and it is the new sport built 5 years ago; the outside is monument, and inside is the historical museum.

- Bali Museum -

It is the recommended spot to visit to learn Balinese culture if you come to Bali first time. The site is not big, but it is worth to see. The museum building is separated into 4 parts, and there are various exhibitions that show Balinese original religion and culture. In the biggest building, there are the exhibitions of religious ceremony, the door with great wood curving, and antique statues of Hindu Gods, etc.

- Barong -

Barong is the important in Bali Huduism. By Bali Hinduism, justice and injustice is always fighting in mind and it cannot be solved. It means justice and injustce exist forecer in this world. The symbol of justice is barong. In addition, Bali Hinduism has the consepts of comparison such as "live and death", "up and down" and "ocean and moustain."

- Barong Dance -

Barong Dance is the story of endless fighting of "Barong" and "Rangda" that are symbols of Bali Hinduism. The story has characters, Prince Sahdewa, minister, God Shiwa, God of death and Kaleka, etc. and the end of story, Prince Sahdewa transforms to Barong and Kaleka transforms to Rangda. In some dance groups, dancers get into trans and stab themselves in the chest, Kris Dance.

- Batuan Private House -

Batuan Village Private House locates 15km from Denpasar. Balinese house basically has the same architecture and style all over the island. It comprises several buildings, the east building is used to make offerings, and the south building will be a kitchen, the west building is commonly used for the parent’s room, and the north building is the children rooms or used as the place of the offerings.

- Batuan Style -

The painting style of mixing Kamasan style and modern western style. White and black tone, really flat detailed drawing is called "Batuan Style." The motifs are Balinese people's daily life, and drawing fills a canvas without space. You can see this Kamasan Style Drawing at ARMA Museum.

- Brahma -

Brahma is one of the 3 important Gods in Bali Hinduism. Eash God has duty, and Brahma manages world creativity and he is expressed as red skin man who ride on water bird Hansa.

C

- Canang -

You can see canang everywhere road, house, temple, etc. in Bali. Canang is the small offering to Gods, and many of you have strong impression to canang. There are colorful flowers in a small plate made by palm leef. Balinese women give this offering to Gods everyday. It needs to use that over 3 colors of flower, and usually red, pink and white. These 3 colors represent 3 important Gods in Bali, Shiwa, Vishnu and Brahma. In Bali Hinduism, there is one more God called Sanghyang Widhi which is the highest God. It is interesting to know meaning of a small offering.

G

- Galungan -

Galungan is the biggest ceremony in Wuku calender, and the date is calculated according to the 210-day Balinese calendar. The spirits of deceased relatives who have died and been cremated return to visit their former homes, and the current inhabitants have a responsibility to be hospitable through prayers and offerings. You can see beautiful bamboo decoration called Penjor around Galungan in villages. Before and after Galungan, they have many ceremonies, and the day before Galungan is Penampahan Galungan. On the day, people prepare for ceremony in Galungan, so they clean their houses, make Penjor in front of their hourses decorated with palm leeves, fruit, rice, palm suger, etc.

I

- Imlek (Chinese New Year) -

It is not related to Hinduism, but it is one of national holidays in Indonesia. In Chinese calender, New Year day is not January 1st, but change every year between January 22 to February 19. For Chinese people and overseas Chinese, it is the most important holiday, and during Chinese New Year holiday, they go back to their hometown and cerebrate new year with their family.

J

- Jegog -

It is not Balinese Dance performance, but there is the traditional music “Jegog” in Negara, east Bali. Jegog is a bamboo percussion musical instrument, and various size of 14 Jegog are counted as one music group. This is only percussion musical instrument in the world which has 4-note scale. 4-note scale represents direction of north, south, east and west, and each direction has god with the central god of Shiwa. This is the unique musical instrument in Bali that represents concepts of Bali Hinduism.

K

- Kamasan Style -

Don’t forget about “Balinese Drawing” in Balinese culture. There are many museums such as Neka Museum, ARMA Museum, Puri Lukisan Museum, etc. that you cannot visit all in one day. Balinese drawing has 5 styles, and the oldest style of drawing is called “Kamasan Style” since 16th century. It is really flat detailed drawing filled canvas without space and motif is Indian poem, Mahabarata and Ramayana, etc.

- Kebaya -

Kebaya is traditional costume for Balinese women. This is a set of blouse and long skirt, and typically vivid beautiful color and needlework. On the ceremony, Balinese women wear this costume and go to temple to pray. There are various size of ready-made Kebaya and order-made Kebaya for your size, but if you want to have your own Kebaya, order-made is recommended.

- Kecak Dance -

One of the major dances in Bali, Kecak Dance. During the dance, over 10 half naked men make a circle and sing “cak, cak, cak…” without words. In the circle, dancers with gorgeous costumes perform Indian poem, “Ramayana” story. There are several places to see Kecak Dance in Bali, but the most famous one is Uluwatu Temple Kecak Dance. The second popular place is Tanah Lot Temple.

- Kuningan -

Galungan is “welcoming dead souls,” on the other hand, Kuningan is “sending back dead souls.” Kuningan ceremony is held 10 days after Galungan, Balinese people go to temples to pray for sending back ancestors’ souls to another world. The day is also considered that Bali Hinduism Gods are going back to another world, so people swear to live seriously and peacefully as Hinduism believers. As well as Galungan, before and after Kuningan, it tends to have traffic jam and some stores are closed.

L

- Legong Dance -

The most gorgeous and beautiful dance in Balinese dances. Female dancers wearing gorgeous costume perform with Gamelan music. There are several programs in Legong Dance, and the famous one is the palace dance “Legong Keraton,” the story of King Lasem “Legong Lasem” and the expressing bird of paradise “Cendrawashi,” etc. In some dances, male dancer perform alone. This is rhythmical dance and really enjoyable to see.

- Le Mayeur Museum -

The artists, Adrien Jean Le Mayeur De Merpes was born in 1880, Brussels. His works are categorized into 3 periods. The period of Belgium 1902-1919, the period of travel 1919-1932, and finishing in the period of Bali 1932-1958. Ni POLLOK who is his Balinese wife and model distinguishes his drawings. After he was passed away, his house was changed to the museum. It is in front of Sanur Beach.

N

- Ngaben -

Funeral and cremation is the biggest ceremony in Balinese people’s life. When a person dead, the person is buried and separation ceremony “mepegat” is held. After that, cremation is held. When people go to the crematory, people march in procession with loud Gamelan music. Men carry a portable shrine “Bade” and the cow shape coffin, and go to cremation. The shape of bade and the scale of ceremony differs depend on the person’s caste and assets.

- Neka Museum -

There are several museums in Ubud, but the most famous museum in all of them is Neka Museum. Inside is separated into some rooms depend on characters of drawings and styles. There are varieties of arts; Bali classic traditional drawing, European style drawing, influenced foreign artists’ drawing, etc. It is recommended to visit there with Ubud sightseeing. If you love arts, you need 2 hours or more time to enjoy this museum.

- Nyepi -

The most famous unique Balinese ceremony is Nyepi. It is new year day of Saka calendar. From ancient time, around this time God of hell “Yama” cleans the country of evil spirit, so evil spirits run away to Bali. Therefore, the day is considered “the day of meditation until evil spirits goes away” and people are prohibited to go out and use fire on the day. The transportation systems of Bali will be closed including the airport, land, sea, and road. People spend quiet day at home on the day.

- Nyepi (Case of Balinese) -

Nyepi is the most important praying in Bali Hinduism, so people gave many ceremonies including making ogoh-ogoh papier mache. 3-4 days before Nyepi, the ceremony “Melasti” is held that people bring offerings from their village temple to ocean and river and purify them. One day before, children bring ogoh-ogoh and walk around to exorcise, and spend quietly at home on the day.

- Nyepi (Case of Tourist) -

Nyepi is started from 00:00 am midnight to 6:00 am next day, and prohibit going out, making noise, using electric and fire. This regulation is also applied to tourists, so if you visit Bali around Nyepi, you have to stay in the hotel on the day. In the hotel, you can spend freely as usual and the restaurant in the hotel is opened. It is good to prepare some snacks and drink before Nyepi and spend slow day on the poolside and your room.

O

- Ogoh-Ogoh -

This is the traditional ceremony before Nyepi “Ogoh-Ogoh.” Balinese children bring big demon shape and walk around the town, and burn it to exorcise at the end. Ogoh-Ogoh is held in each area of Bali, Nusa Dua, Jimbaran, Kuta, etc. from 18:00 to 23:00. Especially, ogoh-ogoh in Denpasar is big scale and worse to see.

P

- Penjor -

Penjor is the 3-5 m high bamboo pole that is put in front of the house before Galungan. The winding shape represents the holy mountain, Mt. Agung. You can see Penjor after a while Galungan and Kuningan.

- Pernikahan -

This is wedding ceremony in Bali. The ceremony is usually held in the groom’s village for 2-4 days. The day before ceremony, there is the custom that a groom visits to a bride’s house to ask to get marry to her, but a bride cannot enter a groom’s house until wedding day. So she waits and prays to purify body and mind in his relative’s house, etc. On the day, a bride changes clothes from early morning, pray at groom’s house or temple, prepares for party, and have several ceremony such as a play of wedding, giving food each other, etc. until evening. Guests visit them with presents and food and leave anytime as they want. You can experience Balinese culture in wedding ceremony, so it is interesting to join it if you have a chance.

- Potong Gigi -

This is coming of age in Bali. Potong means “cut” and Gigi means “teeth” so it is “shaving teeth.” Young Balinese is considered as a one adult after finishing this ceremony that they are shaved canine tooth without anesthesia. This is a cerebration ceremony, so all family and relatives get together and have the ceremony.

- Puri Lukisan Museum -

The museum has the secound largest number of exhibitions, the nuber one is Neka Museum. It takes just 10 min from the center of Ubud, Puri Salen Palace by walk. The site of museum has beautiful green garden, so it is a good place to enjoy walking. There is the open terrace cafe.

R

Rangda -

Rangda is the opposite character against Barong, and it is the symbol of injustice. If Rangda were beaten by Barong, Rangda revived again and keep endless fighting against Barong. Rangda can use only evil magic, but if somebody treats Rangda with good heart and she realizes conscience, she is able to use healing magic for human beings.

S

- Safari -

The traditional costume for Balinese men is Baju Safari. It is usually 3 sets of hat, long sleeve shirt and wrap-around skirt. The shirt has a stand-up collar, so people say it’s got to wear!

- Sanghyang Widhi -

Sanghyang Widhi is the supreme God in Bali Hinduism ethics. Siwa (God of water), Vishnu (God of soil) and Brahma (God of fire) are under Sanghyang Widhi as 3 Gods of Hinduism (Trimurti). Sanghyang Widhi is the only and ultimate belief, so ceremonies in temples and various courtesies are held for praying for Sanghyamg Widhi.

- Saput -

You can see white and black check clothes, Saput, at temples and ceremonies. This color has also meaning based on Hinsuism. Bali Hinduism has concept of justice and injustice. As well as this relative concept, white color has positive meanings such as regeneration, birth and live, and black color has negative meanings such as destruction, evil and death. The clothes are often used to cover stone statues, and Balinese man’s traditional costume, etc.

- Siwa -

Siwa has the duty to destroy the world when the world comes into ending stage in order to prepare creating new world. He rides on the cow called Nandin, and Nandin is also enshrined as God, so many temples enshrine Siwa and Nandin in front of the temple. In addition, Ganesha as known as God of business and study is a child of Siwa.

T

- Tumpek Landep -

Tumpek Landep is the ceremony of once in 180 days to pray for all vehicles moving safely. It has many patterns of ceremony, but usually priest Mangku prays and puts charms in front of cars and bikes. In Denpasar Airport, this ceremony is held for airplanes also!

U

- Ubud Style -

Dutch artist Rudolf Bonnet was invited to Bali in 1930s, and he gave canvas and paint color for young Balinese artists. He taught them perspective drawing, how to draw shadow, etc. by theme of daily life and natural scenery. This is new drawing style, Ubud Style.

- Upacara -

Upacara means ceremony. In Bali, there are many ceremony and praying based on Balinese colander. For example, quiet New Year day Nyepi, Galungan, Kuningan, Saraswati, etc. They also have ceremonies in every new moon and full moon, each temple has the birthday ceremony, etc. Balinese people have day-off for work on days of upacara.

W

- Wisnu -

Wisnu had duty to keep and protect world. Usually, he is represented as a man has 4 arms, Chakram (disk) and cudgel on right hands, Pancajana (trumpet shell) and lotus on left hands. And he rides on the kind of bird called Garuda. Garuda is as famous as “Garuda Airline.” The cultural theme park GWK in Jimbaran means “Garuda Wisnu Kencana” so you can see huge stone statues of Wisnu and Garuda.

Y

- Young Artist Style -

This is drawing style created by young Balinese artists who is taught by Dutch artist Ally Schmidt in 1950s. It is flat drawing and shining and vivid color. Usually, the paintings express agriculture life and nature in Bali.