Balinese Community

Bale Banjar (Community center)

Although Balinese rituals may at times seem complicated, the names of those born on the island are quite simple since-boy or girl- there are only four to remember.

All first-born children called Wayan, second born are Made, third born are Nyoman, fourth born-children are Ketut, and the fifth child's name begin the sequence again with wayan and so on.

There are several family titles some Balinese take on as well, a lingering remnant of Hindu Balinese caste system: Ida Bagus for the high Brahmins; Wesia for all Gusti nobility; Cokorda for upper class Satria and no titles for the mid-and lower caste Sudras.

Unlike the unisex names, however, social and economic roles for each gender are strictly separated; women care for the family and homes, as well as keep up the temples, while men work in the rice fields and look after the property.

The Basis of Balinese life, in fact is in the family house compound, which extends into the greater village community. At the heart of the home is the ancestral shrine, usually located in the edge of the open courtyard, which surrounded by high privacy wall. Aproached from the modest gateaway the entrance is backed by a second short wall called aling-aling, the purposed of which is both to prevent those passing by from peering into compound and to keep evil spirits from entering, as they are notorious for having trouble turning sharp corners.

Balinese Home Concept

In the compound, there are small, separated pavilions for each family fuctions such as sleeping, cooking, and social pursuits. There also may be a vegetable garden, a shady tree grove, or several small temples, depending on the size of the family's enclosure and income.

There can be a hundreds of homes in a Balinese community, which is centered physically in the alun-alun open square and market area and focused socially around the shared leadership of the banjar. Local government is broken down into severals levels including the villages and subpower subak, but in the banjars that organize traditional ceremonies, area festivals, and ritual celebrations. Each male joins a banjar group after marriage, adding to his recognation as an adult and his responsibilities for both family and community.

These group then meet to discuss village business at the bale banjar (community center), the open pavilions scattered throughout the rural areas that often double as a place to practise gambelan or huddle during sudden rainshower.

Source: Adventuring In Indonesia by Holly S.Smith