Tag Archives: bali

Nyepi Festival – A Festival of ‘Silence’

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Located on the western end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, is the Indonesian province of Bali. Known for being home to a wealth of traditional as well as modern art, dance and music, Bali is an island rife with colour and culture. It is also a major tourist destination owing to its booming hospitality industry, scenic beauty, and cultural and recreational attractions.images (13)

The major religion in Bali is Hinduism, and thus is a major platform for various Hindu festivals and customs. One of the most unique festivals celebrated in Bali is the Nypei Festival. Nyepi, literally translates to ‘silence’, and is connected to the celebration of the New Year according to the Saka calendar. Although typically a Hindu holiday, this unique event is celebrated by almost every person on the island regardless of their religion.

Usually celebrated in the month of March, the Nyepi Festival is unique in terms of the customs and traditions attached to. The day prior to the Nyepi Festival is full of noise and activity, consisting of colourful parades and purification rituals performed to cast away evil spirits at the dawn of the New Year. However it is not named after ‘silence’ for no reason, as traditions demand that the entire province be silent during the festival! Therefore there is no traffic or activity during this time, and people try to stay indoors as much as possible.

Cooking and even setting any sort of fire is prohibited during this festival. So, all entertainment, shopping and general activities are virtually halted on this day. Thus the Nyepi Festival is not exactly a tourist attraction, although many tourists are intrigued by this distinctive event. It is a rather unique and rare thing to witness an entire province brought to a halt, with only quietness and peacefulness being present due to a festival. The 2013 Nyepi Festival falls of the 13th of March, so if you are interested in witnessing this unique event, head on over to Bali during this time.

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Witness Bali’s Age Old Ancestor Tribute Traditions at the Colorful Kuningan Festival

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images (9)Renowned as a holiday Mecca for the masses, Indonesia’s tourist capital is no ordinary city in Asia. Abound with natural beauty and a rich cultural heritage the Balinese are a group of people entrenched in their traditional way of life with every occasion in the cycle from birth to death marked with rituals as ancient as time itself. This preoccupation with marking and celebrating every significant event in the natural world as well as life is such a part of the Balinese identity that folk life in the country would be bereft without the age old customs and wisdom passed on from generation to generation. The Galungan Festival is one of Bali’s most prestigious religious and cultural mêlées marked in Wuku years. Taking centre stage for 10 consecutive days the festival pays homage to the all powerful deity Sanghyang Widi and all heavenly benefactors and culminates with a festival as colorful as the one that precedes it. Dubbed the Kuningan Festival the final day of the Galungan period is celebrated with what is deemed as the most significant day in the entire festival.

The Sakenan Temple on Serangan Island also known as Turtle Island is the centerpiece of the celebrations during Kuningan as all Balinese Hindus gather at the venue for three days for the event. Dressed in traditional costumes the pilgrims flock to what is perhaps one of the largest temples in all of Bali to commemorate Kuningan and engage in religious customs paying tribute to ancestors who have graced earth since the beginning of the Galungan and must return to their heavenly abode. Gratitude is also paid to the deities who have also descended from heaven and granted the human race many bountiful gifts as well as mercy in the year that passed.images (10)

The festival is marked across Bali by the yellow cloth clad Penjor (bamboo pole) placed at the entrance of each village home which transforms from a white flagged pole to one bearing yellow hued flag signaling prosperity. A colorful procession is also part of the celebrations which welcomes visitors to take part in the festivities or simply observe the goings on at close quarters.

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Festivals in Bali – Vibrant and unique

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Bali is a traveller’s paradise and Bali hotel accommodation caters to their discerning needs. However with one of the ideally located Bali hotels such as Anantara Seminyak Bali, you will be assured of a remarkable holiday in the region. Attractions in the region include various religious and cultural festivals. Harvest festivals, parades to the sea, fasting & retreat ceremonies, temple festivals and more are among these events. One of the main religious festivals in Bali is Nyepi Festival which marks the beginning of the New Year. Held before this is the Melasti Festival which is dedicated to driving evil spirits away from the island.

Experiencing the Odalan Festival in Bali

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Rich in history, Bali has a rich cultural and religious heritage that can be experienced through such events as the Odalan Festival. An ideal base from which to explore the island and observe its many rituals would be Regent Bali, which is amongst the leading luxury resorts in Bali. Situated in the Sanur District, this Bali luxury resort enjoys its own private beach and tropical gardens in which to unwind in. A ceremony that marks a temple’s anniversary, the Odalan Festival pays respect to Hindu deities. Those visiting during the event can look forward to seeing such features as a form of contemplative prayer known as “muspa”. Various traditional performances such as barong dance and shadow puppetry can also be sometimes witnessed at such events.

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Barong Dance – Dance of Bali

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Bali is a wondrous place. Apart from exotic beaches, to luxurious spas and resorts, Bali is captivating for its rich culture that is different to the rest of the world. With many a festivals and customs, one of the must see is their traditional dances called the Barong Dance. This dance is a part of an ancient tradition that depicts the Balinese vision of life, the good and the bad, with the use of head, hands, feet, fingers, body movements and facial expressions. These performances are extremely entertaining and full of drama that will keep you captivated to the very end of the story as these performers bring a story to life before your eyes. The Barong dance is also performed as a ritual to drive away black magic and evil spirits that rove in the village and to bring in prosperity and peace. While enjoying the lavish comforts provided by Bali luxury villas, take some time to bear witness to one of these fascinating dances. After a day of sightseeing and shopping, surrender yourself to the enchantment of beauty and serenity at Alila Villas Uluwatu in one of their exceptionally luxurious Bali Resort Villas.

Arts and Crafts in Bali – A Land with Talent and Style

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Bali, a wonderful tourist destination, consisting of lavish arts, culture, religion and a place where people unify to build up peace. The harmony among people has helped this land to create and flourish a truly amazing industry of arts and craft. Bali’s handicrafts have gained much popularity over the years and the people making arts out of the most fundamental necessities in their lives are undoubtedly gifted.

In this exotic land, one could see that wood carvings, stone carvings, sculptures, paintings use different styles. It’s usually the males who engage in the trade of sculpting and carving while the women engage themselves with crafting handsome offerings to gods in the form of pyramids of flowers, fruits and cakes which reach up to about two meters high built with so much devotion.

Wood carving is a regular make practiced all around the country. Tegallalang, Pujung and Sebatu are the regions famous for classy wood carvings. It is not a bizarre resonance for the ear to catch the tapings of the carvers’ mallet anywhere around these places. These carvings are influenced with native and some are of distant patterns for the artist in Balinese love to survey the external world, merging foreign with traditional.

Paintings of Bali have styles like Kamasan or the Wayang styles, Pita Maha style (great vitality) and a few others. Kamasan style features Wayang Figures similar to floral designs and flame-and-mountain motifs. Pita Maha materialized when painting was distancing as a form of art.

Balinese jewelry is generally handmade and has designs found identical to those of Thailand and Mexico. It is a illustrious place for jewelry and seldom use casting techniques or imported silver. Village Celuk is famous for its jewelry.

Mask carving is another unique craft mastered by the Balinese, especially in Mas and Puaya. These are done by the proficient and it’s a specialized form of wood carving. Barong and Rangda masks are decorated and made with real hair with huge teeth and protruding eyes. Stone carving too is similar to the wood carving as it’s carved in soft volcanic rock. Kapal and Batubulan are famous for stone carvings.

Bali is a divine location with exotic arts and crafts on top of being a traveler’s sanctuary. The favorable mode of accommodation while holidaying in Bali would be one of many Bali Resorts and Anantara Bali Uluwatu Resort and Spa is guaranteed to exceed expectations of what your ideal Uluwatu hotels should be.

Balinese Dance & Drama

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Balinese dance and drama reflect the lifestyle of the Balinese people. The very essence of the local culture, these performances can be seen during local festivals and celebrations. There are various categories of dance in Bali which also features impressive performances from the omnipresent Ramayana and Mahabharata.  Some of the most special dance traditions in Bali include Kecak, Legong and Barong. The local dances are heavily influenced by religious traditions. When in search of a Bali Resort an option to consider is Anantara Seminyak Bali. Flaunting a distinctive elegance in its design, this Bali Resorts enjoys a prime beachfront location ensuring splendid vistas for all its guests.

Thrilling Nightlife in Bali

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Bali is renowned for its exciting nightlife and every visitor will find excitement and entertainment by sampling the many clubs, pubs and bars in Bali. However it is important to note that Bali’s nightspots only really come alive close to midnight. Around this time the entertainment starts to heat up, with pulsating music and revelry in the bars and clubs. Kuta and Sanur are the destinations with the greatest number of nightclubs and these are generally the most exciting.
The discerning traveller desiring Bali luxury villas will find an ideal rest in the Alila Villas Uluwatu. These outstanding Bali resort villas provide all the necessary comforts for a pleasurable holiday.

Barong and Kris Dance – Depicting The Fight Between Good and Evil!

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Offering a unique insight into the religious traditions of Bali, the Barong and Kris dance depict mythical characters engaged in the age old struggle between good and evil. The dance features ‘Barong’ who is a representation of good going up against Rangda who symbolizes evil. The dance is accompanied by traditional ‘gamelan’ music and features the use of a ‘kris’ which is a kind of a sword. Those wishing to explore the island can stay at one of many a Bali resorts such as Anantara Seminyak Bali. This beachfront Bali resort, offers luxurious accommodation along with contemporary dining and leisure facilities.

Devdan Show at Bali Nusa Dua

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A spectacular show, Devdan features a fusion of world-class aerial acrobatics, modern contemporary dance, traditional Indonesian dance activities, hi-tech special effects and dazzling costumes. Taking the spectators on a fascinating tour of the Indonesian Archipelago, the show focuses on the diversity of cultures across the nation. One of the most distinctive and amazing attractions in Bali, the show was created with the intention of introducing local culture and traditions to visitors whilst providing them with unparalleled entertainment. An exceptional Bali hotel is Anantara Seminyak, Bali. Located amidst breathtaking vistas, this Bali resort is the idea accommodation for those visiting the paradisiacal region.