THE BALI ART FESTIVAL

In evening of 20 June 1979, the people of Denpasar and some other areas in Bali poured out onto the Puputan Badung Square on Surapati Street to witness the first ever Bali Art Festival Even though they often had performance of art at the temple or at the banjar (traditional meeting place), the Bali Art Festival attracted a lot of attention from the local people who were interested enough to travel long distances to witness the event. Art performances of the eight regencies were presented at the procession of the Bali Art Festival and thus opened the eyes of the Balinese upon the rich collection of art and culture of the island.

The variety of Balinese art and culture had motivated Professor Dr Ida Bagus Mantra, who was the ruling governor of Bali to put them together in one stage performance. The exploration and the preservation of art and culture potentials in Bali were propagated by Ida Bagus Mantra while he was still Director General of Culture. Ideas to collect the variety of Balinese arts and culture had already been proposed when the provincial government built the Werdhi Budaya (Art Center) in Abian Kapas village in Denpasar.

The choice of location for the Taman Budaya at the cold suburban area of Denpasar and the building construction displays structural steps of exploring, preserving and developing the arts. Building for permanent exhibition, periodical exhibitions, stage performances, and the Ardha Candra open stage are built to cater for the activities of Balinese artist, to explore, to display, and to develop the various arts. The establishment of STSI (the Institute of Indonesian Arts) on the north side of the Taman Budaya further strengthens the concept of whole preservation of Balinese arts.

The construction of the Taman Budaya and the organization of the Bali Art Festival really support each other. Year after year, the Bali Art Festival takes place at the Taman Budaya, encouraging the great flow of people to witness the presentation of traditional and creative performances by local artists. Many kinds of performances, which are rarely brought to stage, then have opportunity to be presented the Bali Art Festival each year. In addition to performances of dance and music, which are the highlights of the festival, classical literature reading, the fine arts, handicraft, and also creative and contemporary art work fill up the month-long event.

As a result, the Bali Art Festival does not only take part in the preservation of traditional Balinese arts, but it is also an event for tourism. The mid-year festival, which takes place between June and July, is a good time for presenting the arts on a large-scale performance as a tourist attraction. To organize the event in conjunction with the school holidays, and the peak season for tourism, Bali Art Festival is always flocked with visitors.

Until 2015, the Bali Art Festival celebrated the 27^th year of its organization. Children, who were used to be held in their mothers’ arms in the first five years of Bali Art Festival, then took part in as artists in the event, being seen by generation of 2000. It seems that the Bali Art Festival as an event for introducing and passing on the arts has become a medium of constant creativity for the Balinese.  

ROAD TO BALI

The only airport in Bali is the International Airport “Ngurah Rai”, located 14 Kilometers from the island’s capital Denpasar. It is one of the biggest airports in Asia. The main runway is capable of taking all kinds of planes. It has two terminals, one for domestic flights and the other one for international flights. The buildings have typical Modern and Balinese Architecture, completed with AC, VIP rooms, duty-free shops, banks, and various passenger services counters. Bus and taxi service is managed by the association of Bus & Taxi owners.

Ship to Bali may anchor at the harbor of Benoa (Denpasar, South part of Bali, have two side harbor one side for luxuries boat/cruises and the other side for fishing boat and merchant ship), Padangbai (Karangasem east Part of Bali, connecting Bali island and Lombok island) or Gilimanuk (Negara, West Part of Bali, connecting Bali Island and Java).

THE PEOPLE & DAILY LIFE OF BALINESE

Inhabitant of Bali Island most are native Balinese, only a few percent of them are inhabitants from other parts of Indonesia and foreigners who are living in Bali. Most of Balinese are Hindus, only a small number of them are Moslems or Christians or Buddhists. The new comers are Moslems, Christians, Confucians, and Buddhists. Though differing in race, customs, and religions, they have live side by side in harmony.

Bahasa Indonesia is the national language, used in daily conversations and any activities. Bahasa Daerah, the local languages, which are different from one another, is used only during a traditional ceremony or among the families. English is used in the tourism business and for certain commercial purposes. This language is taught at the Secondary Schools and High Schools.

The Balinese have their own way of filling life with their entire Balinese ness, whether or not they have to exist among the streams of technological progress. Between the busy traffic confusion still we can see a duck-keeper walking patiently after his duck rows or among the jet-plane whistles still there is an old man watching his cooped cocks by playing his bamboo flute. To enjoy these unique scenes one should keep one’s eyes and one’s sensitive feeling keen. 

The Balinese life is never getting out from Art. Art and also handicraft since a long time ago had never become a “special thing” for the natives but merely a part of their daily life. It is a fact that Bahasa Bali, the local language spoken among the natives hitherto, has no word meaning “artist” in its vocabulary. It only has some words which mean “drawer” or “draftman” for painter (tukang gambar), as is the case with any other “tukang” which means “somebody who is capable in doing a certain work”. (tukang perahu for boatman, tukang batu for bricklayer).

An actress, for instance, will only be called a “Pregina” as long as she is on the stage. Soon after she leaves the stage she will go back to her daily life as a peasant girl, or just a common person, not more than her neighbors who never set foot on a stage.

Even arts and handicrafts are not something special but very often the artworks appear astonishing. The creator never feels that he has created something, so there is no copyright nor monopoly of a certain right. It is no use to be very surprised if there is a piece done by several persons, or a number of similar works done by a number of different people (with their similar forms), and completely difficult to point out which one is the original or the duplicate. However, some of these works will probably appear superb.

BALI NATURE

Land Scape & Seascape

If in other countries landscape & seascape are luxurious things and expensive, on the country, they are common things in Bali. The beauty of the land is the part of this life, so it is natural that people should protect it without any feeling that protecting is a must for them. Even though the technological development and the need of modern technological implements force some changing in its progress, it will become as nothing if we compare it with the other parts of the island which are allowed to be virgin forever. The beauties of the land exist anywhere; inserted between the very tiring tours, or peeping between the split setting sun’s smiles.

The Climate

The climate is fairly pleasant, with only two seasons a year, the dry season from March to September and the rainy season from September to March. However, very often the rain becomes too friendly with the people and it drop any time it pleases even during the dry season. The sky is cloudy and the air is humid, the sunshine always illuminating it during the years. Temperature ranges from an average minimum of 25^oC to an average maximum of 33^oC, except at the hill sides (of course!) where the temperature could sometimes drop to an average of 18^oC or even lower.

The Flora

Rice is the chief product of the fields besides tropical vegetables, maize, peanut, and beans – especially Soya-beans. The plantations mainly produce coffee for local consumption and export, oranges which are also for local consumption and export, coconuts, bamboo, and within the last year’s people cultivate clove, tobacco, and Jambu Mete (Anacardiun Ocidentale).

Local timbers are not of good quality for building, the Jati (Teakwood) on this island are not too good. Wood for Bali is supplied from Kalimantan and Java, especially during the last years, as the local timbers become shorter and shorter.

The best woods for sculpture are ebony (black or black-brown), sabo or sawo (Manilkara kauki, brown and heavy), bentawas or mentaos (White and heavy), nangka (jackfruit-wood, yellow and brown, heavy) waru (Hibiscus, white, light, used only for painted carvings), randu (Kapok-wood balsa, white, light, used only for painted carvings), pangkal buaya (crocodile-skinned wood, white, heavy), kepelan (green brown, light, used only panels and frames), and pule (white, light, used only to make masks).

Besides the certain fruits which are only available during their seasons like mango (August to November), lychee (July to September), Watermelon (January to May), mangos teen (January to May), Durian (December to April), the hair-ringed fruits /Rambutan (January to May), and several others, there are various kind of fruits which are available anytime and anywhere. All the year people sell bananas, papayas, oranges, pal melons, pineapples, belimbings (Averrhoa Bilimbi), jackfruit, salaks (snake-skinned fruits), and many others.

Tropical vegetables for local consumption are supplied by the local farmers. Sub tropical vegetables are cultivated on the hillsides, but the variations are not more than cabbage, cauliflowers, beans, peas, lettuce, celery, tomatoes, potatoes, and carrots.

Flowers are planted to use in the many offerings the women prepare everyday. There is no intensive flower production, but farmer’s plant sub-tropical flowers and orchids on the hillsides to supply the cities, especially Denpasar and its surrounding tourist resorts. The famouse flowers are bunga pucuk or kembang sepatu (Hibiscus rosasinensis), jepun or kamboja (frangipani), kenanga or sandat (Canangium odoratum), cempaka (Michelia champaca), melati (Jasmin), and mawar (Rose). Banyan tree is only planted on the temple yards or holy places.   

The Fauna

Various birds fly everywhere. Some of them are good singers but the others, especially the small ones and chirp anytime, are good rice-eaters which are hated by farmers. Reptiles are found anywhere. One can always find the harmless garden lizards, iguanas, cicaks, toke (gecko) – two kind of small wall-lizards which are always found hunting for mosquitoes on the house walls – or sometimes an ular sawah (rice-field snake), a kind of black-brown small sake, which is harmless too. One can always find the exceptionally beautiful butterflies, dragonflies, beetles, grasshoppers, and many other insects.

Turtles are hunted for their meat, an important part of offerings for a certain ceremony; Pigs are raised by the Balinese house-wives while the Balinese husband keeps the colorful domestic cocks for fighting. Farmers breed their cattle not only for the beef but also to use for work in the rice fields. There is no ranch in Bali, but since long time ago this island is active exporter for Hong Kong and Singapore.

Buffalo are found only in the western parts of the island. Very often one finds a group of wild deer on the west coast, swimming across the narrow straits to or from the reservation of Blambangan peninsula in East Java. In the west part of Bali there Bali Starling Conservative to protect the Bali Starling (Jalak Bali) that almost totally disappeared.

BALI'S RELIGION & CUSTOM

Hindu religion or Hindu Dharma is held by almost 95% of the population. Its teaching is to reach peace and harmony in life guided by the Wedas as Holy Scriptures. Hindu Dharma is a special blend of Hinduism, Buddhism and ancestor worship that has been flourishing over the centuries. They believe in One Supreme God called Ida Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa, with His three manifestations known as Trisakti, that is Brahma The Creator, Wisnu The Preserver, and Shiwa The Transformer.

Indian philosophy provides the theological framework while indigenous beliefs are at the core of the rituals. Such blending of beliefs is legitimate in Bali where the saying goes as follows, "The truth is one, the interpretations multiple".

Indigenous beliefs are clearly seen in the belief of natural elements and of the ancestors. Nature is viewed as "power" itself and each of its elements is thought to be subjected to spirits. These must be taken care of, provided with a shrine, fed with various offerings made from agricultural products and given respect.
The mother mountain, Gunung Agung, is highly sacred to the Balinese and central to their beliefs. It is the abode of the gods and the ancestors and where you return to when you die.

Religion in Bali varies according to three principles; desa (place), kala (time), and patra (circumstances). Hinduism acknowledges five pillars of faith, respectively; belief in the one Supreme God (Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa), belief in the soul as the universal principle of life and consciousness (atma), the belief in the fruition of one's deeds (karma phala), belief in the process of birth and death (samsara) and belief in ultimate release (moksa). One of the consequences of the principle of karma and samsara is the existence of the wangsa system where an individual inherits his status as a result of his or past life. The four wangsa in Bali are the Brahmana, who deal with religion and the holy texts, the Satria or rulers, the Wesia or merchants and the Sudras, the lower class.

Man should endeavour to maintain the harmony of the whole system, hence the role of rituals. Only by adhering to the peoples rules of behaviour can the proper balance be kept between the two sets of godly and demonic forces. Balinese religion is known to the world through the richness and the life of the Balinese is therefore replete with rituals.

As the tools for maintaining the balance of the world, there are rituals for everything imaginable; from knowledge, cleansing machines to marriage and birth ceremonies, all of different types and levels. Rituals consists of calling down the gods and the ancestors for visits from their heavenly abode in the country above the mountain. They come down during temple festivals and are entertained with dances and fed with offerings. They can also be called down through the entreaties of a priest. Balinese rituals are ruled by a complex calendar system, a combination of the India

Temples in Bali are simple walled open yards from which people can communicate directly with their gods and ancestors. Gods and ancestors normally "visit" their human worshipers or descendants during temple festivals (odalan). They reside in miniature houses set in the temple, the pelinggih shrines.

There are few societies in the world where religion plays a rule such as it does in Bali. The incredible beauty and colour that accompanies the rituals and offerings, which seem to be ever occurring, is proof that Bali is continually harmonizing the world of man with the cosmic world of the Gods.

The strength of their religion and traditions may be the main factor that enables them to preserve their culture from the outside influences. Everyday life in Bali merges with social duties and religious obligations while the art reflects an unnoticed integration of environment, religion and community in which the individual is a part. The organization of the villages, land cultivation's and the creation of art are of communal efforts. A village in Bali is the central place for its people while a family is the basic unit of the Balinese society which is grouped into 'Banjar', the group unit of several families. (Taken from Indonesia Bali Guide Book, 1997, p.64-65)

GALUNGAN DAY

Galungan is a Balinese holiday celebrating the victory of dharma over adharma. It marks the time when the ancestral spirits visit the Earth. The last day of the celebration is Kuningan, when they return. The date is calculated according to the 210-day Balinese calendar. Galungan begins on the Wednesday (Buda) of Dunggulan, the 11th week of the 210-day pawukon calendar.

The day before Galungan, men of the village head out at dawn in search of an unsuspecting pig which is to become the temple sacrifice. The meat is used to make traditional spicy “lawar” dishes containing satay, jackfruit, dozens of herbs and spices and always enough to feed a small army. 

The most obvious sign of the celebrations are the penjor - bamboo poles weighed down by offerings suspended at the end. These can be seen by the side of roads. A number of days around the Kuningan day itself have special names, with particular activities being organized

Mythology

Balinese people commemorate Galungan, the victory day of goodness (dharma) against evil (adharma). The history of Galungan refers to the legend of Mayadenawa. It is said that once upon a time, there was a powerful king, Mayadenawa, who reigned in Balingkang, about a few kilometers north of Batur Lake, Kintamani, Bangli. He also ruled such areas as Makasar, Sumbawa, Bugis, Lombok, and Blambangan.

Mayadenawa was a descendant of daitya (powerful giant), son of Goddess Danu. Because of his magical power, Mayadenawa was able to transform himself into various shapes of creatures. 

Because of his supernatural power, Mayadenawa became arrogantly evil. He forbad Balinese people to worship God and destroyed all the shrines and temples. The plants were destroyed. Food shortages and diseases occurred. People were suffered but they did not have the courage to fight against Mayadenawa because of his magical power. 

Mpu Kulputih, a powerful Hindu priest, was concerned upon the suffering. He then meditated at Besakih Temple to ask for God’s guidance. In his meditation, he received revelation from God Mahadewa that he should go to Jambu Dwipa (India) and ask for help. 

It was not clear about who went to India, but afterward it was said that a platoon of troop from heaven with complete weapons came to attack Mayadenawa. The troop was led by God Indra. The right wing of the platoon was led by Citrasena and Citraganda. The left wing was led by Jayantaka while Gandarwa led the main platoon. 

God Indra sent Bhagawan Narada to spy Mayadenawa Kingdom, but Mayadenawa has found out about this. Therefore, he prepared his troop to face the attack. 

A dreadful war broke up that caused many victims from both sides. Since God Indra’s troop was much stronger, Mayadenawa's troops ran off and left Mayadenawa and his assistant, Si Kala Wong. 

The battle had to be stopped, because the night has come. When God Indra’s troop were still asleep, Mayadenawa came and created ‘tirtha cetik’ (poisonous water) nearby. He then ran away by walking his angled feet sideways in order not to leave any footprints on the ground. The area passed by Mayadenawa is later known as ‘Tampaksiring’ which literally means angled footsteps.

The toxic water poisoned God Indra’s troop. God Indra then created another spring to cure his troop, called Tirta Empul (spring). The holy spring flew to form a river which is called Tukad Pakerisan (Pakerisan River). God Indra’s troop then chased Mayadenawa who transformed himself into several creatures. The area where Mayadenawa transformed into ‘manuk raya’ (big bird) is called Manukaya village. The area where he turned into ‘buah timbul’ (a kind of vegetable) is later known as Timbul village. The place where he transformed into ‘busung’ (young coconut leaf) is called Busung village while a place where he turned into a goddess (dewata) is known as Kedewatan village.

Lastly, Mayadenawa transformed himself into a huge rock. God Indra shot him to dead with an arrow. His blood flew and formed a river called Tukad Petanu (Petanu River). It is believed that the river was cursed. If it was used to water the rice field, blood would come out of the paddies and the paddies would smell. This curse will last in 1000 years.

The death of Mayadenawa was later celebrated as the victory of goodness (dharma) against evil (adharma). This triumph day is commemorated every six months (210 days) of Balinese almanac and is called Galungan. It is called Galungan, possibly because it is occurred on wuku Galungan (based on Balinese almanac).

NYEPI (DAY OF SILENCE)

Nyepi is a Balinese "Day of Silence" that is commemorated every Isaawarsa (Saka new year) according to the Balinese calendar (in 2014, it falls on March 31). It is a Hindu celebration mainly celebrated in Bali, Indonesia. Nyepi, a public holiday in Indonesia, is a day of silence, fasting and meditation for the Balinese. The day following Nyepi is also celebrated as New year.

Observed from 6 a.m. until 6 a.m. the next morning, Nyepi is a day reserved for self-reflection and as such, anything that might interfere with that purpose is restricted. The main restrictions are: no lighting fires (and lights must be kept low); no working; no entertainment or pleasure; no traveling; and for some, no talking or eating at all. The effect of these prohibitions is that Bali’s usually bustling streets and roads are empty, there is little or no noise from TVs and radios, and few signs of activity are seen even inside homes. The only people to be seen outdoors are the Pecalang, traditional security men who patrol the streets to ensure the prohibitions are being followed.

Although Nyepi is primarily a Hindu holiday, non-Hindu residents of Bali observe the day of silence as well, out of respect for their fellow citizens. Even tourists are not exempt; although free to do as they wish inside their hotels, no one is allowed onto the beaches or streets, and the only airport in Bali remains closed for the entire day. The only exceptions granted are for emergency vehicles carrying those with life-threatening conditions and women about to give birth.

On the day after Nyepi, known as Ngembak Geni, social activity picks up again quickly, as families and friends gather to ask forgiveness from one another, and to perform certain religious rituals together.

The lead up to Nyepi day is as follows:

Melasti or Mekiyis or Melis (three days before Nyepi)
Melasti is meant to clean the pratima or arca or pralingga (statue), with symbols that help to concentrate the mind in order to become closer to God. The ceremony is aimed to clean all nature and its content, and also to take the Amerta (the source for eternal life) from the ocean or other water resources (ie lake, river, etc). Three days before Nyepi, all the effigies of the Gods from all the village temples are taken to the river in long and colourful ceremonies. There, they have are bathed by the Neptune of the Balinese Lord, the God Baruna, before being taken back home to their shrines.

Tawur Kesanga (the day before Nyepi) The Bhuta Yajna Ritual
Exactly one day before Nyepi, all villages in Bali hold a large exorcism ceremony at the main village cross road, the meeting place of demons. They usually make Ogoh-ogoh (the fantastic monsters or evil spirits or the Butha Kala made of bamboo) for carnival purposes. The Ogoh-ogoh monsters symbolize the evil spirits surrounding our environment which have to be got rid of from our lives . The carnivals themselves are held all over Bali following sunset. Bleganjur, a Balinese gamelan music accompanies the procession. Some are giants taken from classical Balinese lore. All have fangs, bulging eyes and scary hair and are illuminated by torches.The procession is usually organised by the Seka Teruna, the youth organisation of Banjar. When Ogoh-ogoh is being played by the Seka Teruna, everyone enjoys the carnival. In order to make a harmonic relation between human being and God, human and human, and human and their environments, Tawur Kesanga is performed in every level of society, from the people's house. In the evening, the Hindus celebrating Ngerupuk, start making noises and light burning torches and set fire to the Ogoh-ogoh in order to get the Bhuta Kala, evil spirits, out of our lives.

Nyepi
On Nyepi day itself, every street is quiet - there are nobody doing their normal daily activities. There is usually Pecalangs (traditional Balinese security man) who controls and checks for street security. Pecalang wear a black uniform and a Udeng or Destar (a Balinese traditional "hat" that is usually used in ceremony). The Pecalangs main task is not only to control the security of the street but also to stop any activities that disturb Nyepi. No traffic is allowed, not only cars but also people, who have to stay in their own houses. Light is kept to a minimum or not at all, the radio or TV is turned down and, of course, no one works. Even love making, this ultimate activity of all leisure times, is not supposed to take place, nor even attempted. The whole day is simply filled with the barking of a few dogs, the shrill of insect and is a simple long quiet day in the calendar of this otherwise hectic island. On Nyepi the world expected to be clean and everything starts anew, with Man showing his symbolic control over himself and the "force" of the World, hence the mandatory religious control.

The Nyepi Rituals are performed as follows:
•    Amati Geni: No fire or light, including no electricity
•    Amati Karya: No working
•    Amati Lelunganan: No travelling
•    Amati Lelanguan: Fasting and no revelry/self-entertainment

Ngembak Geni (the day after Nyepi)
Ngembak is the day when Catur Berata Penyepian is over and Hindus societies usually visit to forgive each other and doing the Dharma Canthi. Dharma Canthi are activities of reading Sloka, Kekidung, Kekawin, etc.(ancient scripts containing songs and lyrics).

From the religious and philosophy point of view, Nyepi is meant to be a day of self introspection to decide on values, eg humanity, love, patience, kindness, etc., that should kept forever. Balinese Hindus have many kind of celebrations (some sacred days) but Nyepi is, perhaps the most important of the island's religious days and the prohibitions are taken seriously, particularly in villages outside of Bali's southern tourist belt. Hotels are exempt from Nyepi's rigorous practices but streets outside will be closed to both pedestrians and vehicles (except for airport shuttles or emergency vehicles) and village wardens (Pecalang) will be posted to keep people off the beach. So wherever you happen to be staying on Nyepi Day in Bali, this will be a good day to spend indoors. Indeed Nyepi day has made Bali a unique island.

BALI PROVINCE ADMINISTRATION

Bali is one of Province of Indonesia Archipelago led by an elected Governor. For governmental administration purpose the island is divided into 8 Kabupaten (Regencies): Badung, Bangli, Buleleng, Gianyar, Jembrana, Karangasem, Klungkung, and Tabanan, and one municipality, the Kotamadya of Denpasar. Each Kabupaten (Regency) is headed by a Bupati (Regent), while the municipality of Denpasar is led by a Walikota (Mayor).

Every Kabupaten, and Kotamadya, consists of several Kecamatan (Districts), which are headed by Camats (the Chief of the District). A Kecamatan has several Desa-Administratips, the administrative village, with an elected Chief of Administrative Village Kepala Desa/Perbekel in every village to manage the governmental administration. Beside the Kepala Desa/Perbekel there are several traditional Chiefs of village, The Bendesa Adats, who are responsible for the traditional and religious affairs in every Desa Adat (Village Custome), the Traditional Village. Usually a Desa Adat has a smaller area than the Desa-Administratip, which means there are several Desa Adats in a Desa-Administratip.

The smallest society is a Banjar, the association of a number of families, with its various sub-associations (women association (PKK), youth club (Sekaa Truna Truni), Traditional Music Club (Sekaa Gong), Dance Group, etc). A Banjar is led by its two elected Chiefs, The Kelian Dinas who assists the Kepala Desa/Perbekel, and the traditional chief Kelian Adat who assists the Bendesa Adats. The condition and the progress of a Banjar’s members could be easily indicated by the condition of its Public hall Balai Banjar, and its alarm-drums tower, the Bale Kul-Kul.