The culture of Bali is unique. People say that the Balinese people have reached self-content. It is not an exaggeration that when a Balinese is asked what heaven is like, he would say, just like Bali, without the worries of mundane life. They want to live in Bali, to be cremated in Bali when they die, and to reincarnate in Bali.

Religion and beliefs

 Bali is different from the rest of Indonesia because of the religion that it follows. The majority of people in Indonesia are Muslim, but most people in Bali follow Balinese-Hinduism.  Many religions set time aside in daily lives for religious rituals; Muslims, for example, pray five times a day. Balinese-Hindus, however, organise their whole lives around the practise of their religion. Every aspect of their lives involves some sort of prayer, worship or offering to the gods.

Balinese-Hinduism is further celebrated with 60 religious holidays a year. All celebrations and acts of worship revolve around the gods Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu, and spirits, sacred places, ghosts, demons and magic. Balinese-Hindus believe that they are on a spiritual journey, and believe in reincarnation. It is their belief that each time a person dies, their spirit is a step closer to nirvana (paradise).

Ceremonies

 The Balinese are famous for their bright and richly cultural ceremonies. The Balinese culture celebrates many occasions during a person’s life. From birth to death, these ceremonies are always filled with joy, food, and prayer to their gods.

Birth rituals, marriage ceremonies and cremations are just some of the ceremonies every Balinese person will experience throughout their life to represent different phases of their time on Earth. Tooth-filing ceremonies are also common throughout July and August in Bali. In these ceremonies, teenagers have their teeth filed to mark their journey into adulthood.

The cremation ceremony is the most elaborate and costly in the Balinese culture. There are many rituals associated with this occasion and it is of great importance. Balinese people believe that if a spirit does not have a proper cremation then it will haunt the Earth and the living.

Communities

Community life in Bali is highly organised, and each family is part of a banjar. Banjars are groups of between 50-200 Balinese families who share common beliefs, areas and goals.

Banjars are self-governing community groups that organise and look after the families in their local district. They are run by a banjar head, which is supported by the male heads of each of the families. Together they look after the local irrigation, arrange marriages, care for the needy and maintain their community.

Banjars are strong communities of people who work and socialise together in a harmonious atmosphere.   Everyone in a banjar has a responsibility, and people always have someone to help each other.

The island itself belongs to the gods, and the Balinese see themselves simply as temporary caretakers, just as the body is regarded as a temporary home for the soul as it progresses step by step through successive reincarnations towards ultimate perfection or moksa. In death the soul must be released in preparation for its impending return in a newborn member of the family. Its ultimate fate will depend on the karma accumulated during life.