Should Know! Here Are 5 List Of Worldwide Balinese Cultures

JAKARTA – The island of Bali is known as the Island of the Gods. This title is not without reason, because the beauty of the natural landscape, culture with high aesthetics, and philosophical Balinese culture were created by the Gods. Every corner of the island of Bali or the province of Bali has a charm that captivates the heart.

Once you visit the Island of the Gods, time and time again you will be amazed. Starting from the cultural products in the form of art, habits of life, until the procedures have a deep meaning. It is important for you to know that Bali is recognized by the world as the most beautiful place to visit. More importantly, the Balinese culture in the following 10 lists has gone global.

Quoting from the UNESCO World Heritage Convention page, the subak irrigation system is included in the list of world heritage sites. This irrigation system is a manifestation of the Tri Hita Karana philosophy. When you pass through several areas in Bali, the eye will catch the terraced rice fields.

This terraced rice field is one of the implementations in the subak irrigation system. The subak irrigation system is based on an egalitarian and democratic spirit in agricultural practices to meet food needs, especially rice.

The concept of Tri Hita Karana in supporting water management in the subak system aims to maintain a harmonious relationship between nature, the spiritual world, a series of rituals, offerings, and performances in an aesthetically pleasing manner.

In the performing arts of dance in Balinese culture, there are 3 genres, namely sacred, semi-sacred, and those intended to be enjoyed by the wider community. Balinese dance is included in the UNESCO WHC intangible heritage list.

Balinese dances are played by men and women wearing traditional costumes. The costume is brightly colored and is painted with gold floral and fauna motifs with leaf shape accessories made of gold and gems. The dance is inspired by nature and symbolizes the traditions, customs, and values of the community's beliefs. All types of Balinese dance are accompanied by gamelan which describes the atmosphere in addition to the dancer's expressive gestures.

As a result of culture, dances in Bali with the criteria of the 3 genres above include Barong Dance, Baris Dance, Joget Bumbung Dance, Rejang Dance, Sanghyang Dedari Dance, Gambuh Dance Drama, and Sidakarya Mask Dance.

Reported by the Bali Provincial Government website, during the pandemic, endek weaving is increasingly known to the world. In early 2021, the Governor of Bali Province collaborated with the French Fashion House, Christian Dior Couture.

The word endek from endek weaving comes from the word ngendek or gandekan which means silence and the color does not change. The word is taken from the process of making it with threads that are tied and dyed. So the color of the thread never changes.

Balinese culture is indeed very close to nature, as illustrated by the motifs on endek woven fabrics. In addition to natural motifs, there are also sacred motifs, namely the encak serve motif and the patra motif.

The combination of architectural nuances of tradition, Balinese culture, beautiful natural landscapes, combine to form a unique atmosphere. This can be felt when traveling to Bali, will inhale the aroma of incense, find canang sari in every corner visited, the friendliness of the residents, to feel the harmony of nature.

Not only beaches as tourist attractions that can be approached, there are waterfalls, waters for snorkeling, surfing, mountains, and beautifully designed riverbanks. A number of holy temples are also open to the public. Not to mention the museum with a wide variety of historical collections. In addition, Balinese food also has a unique taste, such as chicken betutu, jinggo rice, serombotan, satay lilit, sambal matah, and many more.

Balinese cuisine is also processed based on the natural resources around and recipes based on culture that are passed down to each generation.

Culture comes from the Sanskrit buddhayana which means mind or reason. According to the KBBI, culture is thought, reason, something that develops and has become a habit so that it is difficult to change. From the list above, it includes customs and all things about Bali that are difficult to change which are actually unique.