Balinese Life
Gracious Interfaith Concord in Bali

Within the tiny island of Bali or the Island of a Thousand Temples of which population in majority practice Hinduism, also spread out some houses of worship belonging to other religions. As soon as leaving for your hotels from Ngurah Rai International Airport, you will encounter a temples and mosques in Tuban. In other occasions, when you have a sightseeing tour of downtown Denpasar, like visiting the Bali Museum, in the close proximity lay a temple and some churches. Or even if you happen to buy an optional tour to Eastern Bali, after watching the Barong Dance in the morning, you will pass by a Buddhist temple in in the vicinity of Hindu temple at Blahbatuh, Gianyar. These are only some examples of house of worship that are adjacent to one another.

As a matter of fact, gracious interfaith concord in Bali has been established since a few hundred years ago. Mostly set in motion in troops assistance among kingdoms in Bali with those of outside Bali (Islamic kingdom) in facing both local and outside attack. When the warfare was over, members of the troops were bestowed a land then they lived there interacting with local people by establishing their kampong. Meanwhile, the arrival of Christianity in Bali by missionary took place starting circa 1930s during the Dutch administration.
In this day and age, there have been some prominent Moslem or Javanese kampongs across Bali like Pegayaman village in North Bali, Kepaon in Denpasar and some others. Just as that of the Christian, there are Belimbing Sari Village in West Bali, Piling Village in Tabanan, Tuka and Untal-Untal Village in Badung. By nature, they all live adjacent and in harmony on every occasion with the local Hindu villagers. Without leaving their root, they at least persistently conserve some values of local tradition to maintain their social relationship and establish tolerance.
On celebrating religious festivity, they will adopt and discharge a tradition named ngejot in Balinese language. It conveys an action of delivering food delicacies prepared to neighbour in order they also find pleasure in the joyful and exuberant celebration and maintain the social relationship. It may be consisting of food, cake or assorted fruits. In modern times as today, this tradition still works even in heterogeneous community in housing complexes in urban area. They live together in a small community that usually belongs to a part of sub village administration nearby. Another matter that is no less important is sensitiveness of each religion, such as toward certain food. For example, every time preparing the food for a celebration, wedding party or the like, the Hindus deliberately provide a special menu labelling penyelaman. It means special food prepared for the invitees of nyama selam or the Moslem companion or others who do not consume pork and its variant foods.
Within the tiny island of Bali or the Island of a Thousand Temples of which population in majority practice Hinduism, also spread out some houses of worship belonging to other religions. As soon as leaving for your hotels from Ngurah Rai International Airport, you will encounter a temples and mosques in Tuban. In other occasions, when you have a sightseeing tour of downtown Denpasar, like visiting the Bali Museum, in the close proximity lay a temple and some churches. Or even if you happen to buy an optional tour to Eastern Bali, after watching the Barong Dance in the morning, you will pass by a Buddhist temple in in the vicinity of Hindu temple at Blahbatuh, Gianyar. These are only some examples of house of worship that are adjacent to one another.
When the holiday of different religions occurs coincidentally, each religious figure, assembly and government will sit together to find out the best solution to do the celebration. By doing so, they can arrive at nice and just agreement then assures all devotees can pay homage flourishingly and smoothly. Formerly, Nyepi and Idul Fitri have once fallen on the same day and so have the Idul Fitri and Christmas. Through the spirit of togetherness and high tolerance, any difficult situation as above could be resolved and conflict can be avoided. This indicates the gracious interfaith concord in Bali that has been well established. (BTN/029)