In Bali, religion is not separate from daily life - it ís daily life. Every home has a shrine, every village has a temple and every day begins with an offering. The Balinese practice a unique form of Hinduism, shaped by centuries of blending indigenous animist beliefs with Hindu and Buddhist traditions from Java and beyond.
This temple is in the northwest of Bali. I was very grateful to be allowed to witness it. For me, it became immediately visible how strongly spirituality is woven into daily life here. These families do not only come together for grand ceremonies, but also to pray daily, bring offering and maintain contact with their ancestors. To be allowed to be so close to such devotion reminds me to always stay close to the earth, connected to each other, to family, to your ground and to spirit. I think that is it. Bali is an island that helps you remember. A place where many people feel at home - and the crowds that follow...
The small woven palm-leaf baskets in these images - filled with flowers, rice and incense - are called canang sari. They are not decorative. They are a daily act of gratitude, a conversation between the visible world of people and the invisible world of spirits. The act of making and placing them is called ngaturang - to give with full intention. Water (tirta) is the most sacred element. When a priest sprinkles water over participants, it is a literal purification called melukat, cleansing the soul so the sacred can enter. The temple architecture maps the cosmos. The split gate (candi bentar) represents the balance between opposing forces.
