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Balinese Fishermen
Predecessors
of the Balinese, except for being known
as artists that never stop making forms
of creative art are also known as fishermen
that rely on their life to the generosity
of the Lord Varuna, the God of ocean. They
are brave men that sail the ocean to catch
fish for the sake of earning their living.
Bali Island is surrounded by seas where
live many kinds of fish and marine biota
that are beneficial for human life. Fishermen
in past periods prior to tourism sector
growing rapidly were deeply involved mostly
Balinese.
These fishermen founded ‘Pura Segara’,
or temple of the sea at beachsides as a
sanctum to venerate the Lord Varuna, appeal
for safety in the voyage to catch fish.
In addition, this temple also constitutes
a means to reinforce the social bond and
relationship among them.
Their catch of fish is not only intended
for self-consumption but also for being
sold to finance family needs. Fishermen
usually sell their fish directly on the
spot at the beachside. Fish brokers are
also not less enthusiastic to wait from
early in the morning so the beach suddenly
changes into an ‘instant market’.
The crowd and amazing bargaining shouting
occurs between brokers and wives of fishermen.
So enthusiastically, they hardly feel the
coldness of the morning air that transfixes
into their bones.
Barring becoming a part of their daily menu,
fish is also made use of as an ingredient
for offerings that are presented to the
Supreme God everyday called banten saiban.
Meanwhile, on particular rituals, or in
the offerings called ‘peras ajuman’,
it will be chosen be gerang (white bait)
that is placed onto a takir (small box made
of banana leaf) or small plate and then
furnished with assorted fried beans and
fried-sauced grated coconut.
Similarly, this white bait is used as a
complement in the form of side dish of ‘nasi
yasa’ (distinctive menu of the Balinese
on performing ritual). Some others make
this fish in a special menu called sager
(fried white bait mixed with raw grated
coconut dressed with sauce).
Fish has a special position in the life
of Balinese community. It is said from time
immemorial the universe was hit by an enormous
disaster, human beings were chaotic to look
for refuge and save themselves. In the midst
of such chaos, the Lord Vishnu came down
to earth to save human beings in his embodiment
as a huge fish called Matsya Avatar. Probably
due to such reason in the Ngaben (cremation)
ceremony, the Balinese make sarcophagus
(receptacle for corpses in the cremation)
in the form of fish. This fish is believed
to be able to usher the ancestral soul of
the cremated corpse arriving safely to the
pitri loka or ancestral soul plane.
Right now, at the core of tourism activity
that grows rapidly, many art craftsmen make
fish sculptures that are sold openly in
art markets or art shop throughout Bali
with some craftsmen producing them in large
scale for export. By making the fish sculpture,
those craftsmen achieve prosperity and a
luxurious life. So do the fishermen, apart
from catching fish, they also offer sailing
services to tourists that would like to
enjoy the allurement of the sea.
This signifies that economic lives of fishermen
in Bali is getting better. They obtain blessing
from the tourism development, particularly
fishermen at Kuta, Sanur, Nusa Dua, Candidasa
and Lovina and many of them admit to prefer
becoming fishermen and capturing dollar
in catching fish. “The dollar’s
rate is higher than that of fish,”
joked I Wayan Sima, a fisherman from Kuta.
If you are spending a holiday on the island
and happen to pass through a beachside area,
or you are swimming and sunbathing on the
beaches like at Kuta, Sanur, Nusa Dua, Candidasa
and so forth, just have a look at around,
you will undoubtedly see a temple by the
sea standing on the beachside.
If you are curious to know further, simply
come closer to the temple, but do not enter
its courtyard inattentively as it is an
absolutely sacred zone. It would be advisable
for you to ask for information to local
people or your tour guide.
Integrity of Balinese fishermen to sail
the ocean and dexterity in catching fish
also give inspiration to the artist to compose
fishermen dances that is somewhat popular
up to current times. If you like Balinese
dance, just see it that is danced by three
nice girls and a handsome boy. Their adorable
and dynamic movements, as though invited
you to have a dream to become a fisherman
sailing the vast ocean while catching fish.
How amusing they are! Ketut
Sumadi Contributor of Bali Travel News
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