Tag Archives: Hindu

Three Temples in Bali

Bali is unique in Indonesia, with a Hindu population of 86.9%. One of the great pleasures of visiting Bali is touring the temples. Temples represent an important part of daily religious, social and cultural life and are meticulously maintained. On this trip, I visited three in the Ubud area, illustrated in the following photographs.1-3 Pura […]

Balinese Gamelan Ensemble Rehearsal

While walking in Seminyak, Bali, one evening I heard the strains of a gamelan ensemble. I quickly located them, practising in their temple and stood close to the stage to watch them for a half an hour or so. When they took a break, their leader came over to me and explained that they were preparing […]

Cremation Ceremony for a Balinese Prince

I arrived in Ubud, Bali, on Sunday 8th May having learnt that a public cremation procession and ceremony was taking place for a royal prince, Cokorda Putra Widura, who had recently died young from an asthma attack. Preparations had been under way for several days; the procession was scheduled to depart from the Royal Palace […]

A Visit to Lombok, Indonesia, 2015

While holidaying in Bali earlier in the year, we took a few days in the neighbouring island of Lombok. The flight time between the islands is twenty minutes, but with our destination resort in in the north, it was a two hour drive from the airport. The outward journey took us into the mountains, through […]

Tirta Empul: A Holy Spring and Temple in Central Bali

Pura Tirta Empul dates from around CE 960, when a temple was built on the site of the spring. According to legend, the ancient ruler Mayadanawa angered the gods by suppressing Hinduism and the freedom of his subjects to worship freely. An army, led by the god Indra, pursued Mayadanawa, who poisoned a nearby river making the troops […]

Galungan: when Balinese Ancestors Return to Earth

The Balinese festival of Galungan symbolises the victory of good (Dharma) over evil (Adharma). To Balinese Hindus, it is one of the most important events of the 210-day year, a time when they express their gratitude to the creator of the universe, Ida Sang Hyang Widhi. It is a time of feasting, when many return […]

Ganesha Statues in Seminyak, Bali

Ganesha, together with Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and Durga, comprise the five prime Hindu deities. Ganesha is easily recognisable with his elephant’s head on a human body and large belly. He wears a sacred thread, or belt, in the form of a serpent. in his right hand he holds his broken tusk and in his left […]