02-11-2004, 03:31 PM
More Hindu than the Indian Hindus
2004-02-10 Published by Hindu Herald Gathered by Staff Reporter
BALI,FEBRUARY 10: The names on houses, the statues at traffic
junctions and even the road names strike a note of familiriaty. A
tourist also does not miss the odd flower that is prominently placed
on the dashboard of the taxi and the incense stick burning near the
steering of the taxi he is travelling in or, the temples that dot
the landscape. So, one is greeted with a huge statue of the
mythological character Ghatotkacha of Mahabharat fame as one enters
Bali from the Denpasar international airport or turns into a road
named Arjuna while visiting various districts of the island. There
might be a huge painting of Krishna advising Arjuna on his chariot
in an internet cafe. This is Bali. One of the thousand-odd islands
in the Indonesian peninsula. The island in Muslim Indonesia that has
95 per cent of its population of Hindus. We are more Hindus than the
Hindus in India, says the taxi driver who proudly proclaims that he
is a Hindu pointing towards the offering placed on the dashboard.
The Indonesian Government protects our religion assiduously. Most
schools have a Hindu religion teacher who, besides parents and
priests, is the Balinese equivalent of a guru, he says. Agrees Alit
Wiratmaja, a senior executive working in Bali. Art and culture are
strongly bonded to Bali's unique form of Hinduism called Hindu
Darma. Classical dance dramas for example, are based on the old
Hindu epics of the Ramayana and the Mahabarata, but contain an
element of local folklore, perculiar to the island, he says.
Although the Balinese are more exposed to global tourists and
generally speak more English than people in other parts of the
Indonesia they have managed to preserve their culture despite
overwhelming foreign influences brought to the region by tourists.
The Balinese believe Hinduism was brought into Indonesia by Indian
traders about 2000 year ago. Around 400 AD, the Hindu Kingdoms in
Central and East Java had their great influence over Bali, but when
Islam came in, the Hindu Kingdom in Java became less and less
powerful, at that time a large number of priests, noblemen, artists
and their followers escaped to Bali. They blended their belief and
traditions with those of the local people which is inherited by the
present Balinese people. Bali has nearly 20,000 public temples, and
most homes have a family temple. Each celebrates its dedication
anniversary, which is frequent, because the Balinese lunar year
lasts just 210 days. It's hard to miss a temple festival, because
one occurs some where every day. It is this unique culture and deep
faith in religion that helped the Balenese overcome the trauma
caused by the October 2002 explosions in a crowded night club in the
island, say those associated with the tourism industry. As a Hindu
community, the Balinese believe in Karmaphala, the religious law
that any deed will bring automatic results to the doer. The Bali
people organised prayer after prayer not only among the Hindus but
also involving non-Hindus and other ethnic groups. So, the tiny
island was back in business, attracting tourists from world over
again, says Dr.I.G.Pitana, Director of Bali Tourism authority.
Inspite of being predominently Hindu, Bali, however, has not found
favour with Indian tourists, says Dr. Pitana adding that may be it
was failure on part of the tourism industry not to have wooed the
Indian tourists. The Hindu Dharma, the religious belief system of
Bali, governs all activities of the daily life of the Balinese,
working, sleeping, eating, praying, dancing, and all other
activities are part of and governed by the Dharma, says a priest at
a temple. The Balinese thus regularly perform yajnas and religious
ceremonies like Saraswati Puja. There are temples of Brahma, Visnhu
and Shiva. A gigantic statue of Garud Vishnu is currently being
built in Bali. (The Indonesian airline, incidently, is known as
Garuda Airways) One of the temple is of Jagadnatha. Festivals are
held regularly in the islands towns and villages. The Government has
taken all steps to protect the sentiments of the Hindu community.
Sanctum sanctorums of temples are out of bounds for tourists and all
the festivals are held in full participation of the government
machinery
2004-02-10 Published by Hindu Herald Gathered by Staff Reporter
BALI,FEBRUARY 10: The names on houses, the statues at traffic
junctions and even the road names strike a note of familiriaty. A
tourist also does not miss the odd flower that is prominently placed
on the dashboard of the taxi and the incense stick burning near the
steering of the taxi he is travelling in or, the temples that dot
the landscape. So, one is greeted with a huge statue of the
mythological character Ghatotkacha of Mahabharat fame as one enters
Bali from the Denpasar international airport or turns into a road
named Arjuna while visiting various districts of the island. There
might be a huge painting of Krishna advising Arjuna on his chariot
in an internet cafe. This is Bali. One of the thousand-odd islands
in the Indonesian peninsula. The island in Muslim Indonesia that has
95 per cent of its population of Hindus. We are more Hindus than the
Hindus in India, says the taxi driver who proudly proclaims that he
is a Hindu pointing towards the offering placed on the dashboard.
The Indonesian Government protects our religion assiduously. Most
schools have a Hindu religion teacher who, besides parents and
priests, is the Balinese equivalent of a guru, he says. Agrees Alit
Wiratmaja, a senior executive working in Bali. Art and culture are
strongly bonded to Bali's unique form of Hinduism called Hindu
Darma. Classical dance dramas for example, are based on the old
Hindu epics of the Ramayana and the Mahabarata, but contain an
element of local folklore, perculiar to the island, he says.
Although the Balinese are more exposed to global tourists and
generally speak more English than people in other parts of the
Indonesia they have managed to preserve their culture despite
overwhelming foreign influences brought to the region by tourists.
The Balinese believe Hinduism was brought into Indonesia by Indian
traders about 2000 year ago. Around 400 AD, the Hindu Kingdoms in
Central and East Java had their great influence over Bali, but when
Islam came in, the Hindu Kingdom in Java became less and less
powerful, at that time a large number of priests, noblemen, artists
and their followers escaped to Bali. They blended their belief and
traditions with those of the local people which is inherited by the
present Balinese people. Bali has nearly 20,000 public temples, and
most homes have a family temple. Each celebrates its dedication
anniversary, which is frequent, because the Balinese lunar year
lasts just 210 days. It's hard to miss a temple festival, because
one occurs some where every day. It is this unique culture and deep
faith in religion that helped the Balenese overcome the trauma
caused by the October 2002 explosions in a crowded night club in the
island, say those associated with the tourism industry. As a Hindu
community, the Balinese believe in Karmaphala, the religious law
that any deed will bring automatic results to the doer. The Bali
people organised prayer after prayer not only among the Hindus but
also involving non-Hindus and other ethnic groups. So, the tiny
island was back in business, attracting tourists from world over
again, says Dr.I.G.Pitana, Director of Bali Tourism authority.
Inspite of being predominently Hindu, Bali, however, has not found
favour with Indian tourists, says Dr. Pitana adding that may be it
was failure on part of the tourism industry not to have wooed the
Indian tourists. The Hindu Dharma, the religious belief system of
Bali, governs all activities of the daily life of the Balinese,
working, sleeping, eating, praying, dancing, and all other
activities are part of and governed by the Dharma, says a priest at
a temple. The Balinese thus regularly perform yajnas and religious
ceremonies like Saraswati Puja. There are temples of Brahma, Visnhu
and Shiva. A gigantic statue of Garud Vishnu is currently being
built in Bali. (The Indonesian airline, incidently, is known as
Garuda Airways) One of the temple is of Jagadnatha. Festivals are
held regularly in the islands towns and villages. The Government has
taken all steps to protect the sentiments of the Hindu community.
Sanctum sanctorums of temples are out of bounds for tourists and all
the festivals are held in full participation of the government
machinery