Culture
Bali, a true paradise for the real culture lovers
History
Temples on Bali
The dominant Hindu religion throughout the Balinese culture is the reason for the many temples across the whole island. Each temple has its own purpose and in every village there are several, a lot of the families across the island even have their own temples. The culture is closely linked to the religion of the people, and is clearly evident across the island.A few temples:
• Pura Pulaki is a local temple that was restored in the early 1980's and is now the home of a large group of apes. Just a short walk from the temple you'll find a 3km, paved road that leads you to the temple of Pura Melanting, this temple is in a dramatic setting and donations will be requested for entry. |
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• Pura Tanah Lot is one of the most popular temples to visit primarily due to its special location out at sea. The breathtaking temple is most visited at sunset for its spectacular colour show, but it's best to visit in the afternoon when there’s not too much of a crowd and you can access the island at low tide with a short walk. |
Museums
Most of the museums in Bali are to be found in Ubud. Most contain, but are not limited to, art objects, sculptures and paintings. Several museums offer you more about the history of Bali.A few museums:
• Neferi Propinsi is located in Denpasar andwas restored back in 1920, at the time it was mainly used for storage until 1932 when it was opened to the public. There are rare Balinese antiques and cultural objects exhibited in the museums several buildings. |
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• The Neka Art Museum in Ubud was opened in 1976 and founded by Suteja Neka, who had, at the time, a private collection and was dealing in Balinese art. It is by far the best place to learn about the development of painting in Bali. |
Population on Bali
Birth
This is the first ceremony of every Balinese and takes place when the baby is only three months old to ensure the safety of the child. After birth there are sacrifices and after twelve days there is a ceremony for the mother. Finally, after 42 days a ring sacrifice is given for the future of the child.
Wedding
Its expected in Bali for people to marry at young age and the age depends on which region you’re from. There are no arranged marriages in the Balinese culture but they are usually determined by the extent of the family’s wealth. The most common way to get married would be that the parents of the groom would go to the parents of the "future" bride to propose.
Cremation
This is the last ceremony of a person’s life held and often the largest and most spectacular. This ceremony isn't cheap and for the less prosperous families there are also alternatives. The alternative is that the cremation will be postponed until there are more deaths and so to share the price, this may even take years.