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Bali a Tropical Paradise
by Tania Montmon
http:/www.ftptbali.com
Bali a tropical paradise - owes its popularity to the
Dutch colonists that inhabited it earlier. Tales of its
natural splendor traveled far and wide; and since 1920s,
it has been a favored destination for cruise ships. The
economy of Bali thrives on tourism and this has taken the
form of a cottage industry in this group of islands.
Bali's culture is an interesting contrast to the main
island of Java. The ethnic Balinese people are for the
most part Hindu. The wave of Islam that swept through much
of Indonesia bypassed Bali. While the Hinduism they
practice is fundamentally the same as in India, the customs
and daily practices are unique.
The Hindu rites and ceremonies practiced in Bali are
centered on the concept of reincarnation. This is
prominently reflected in their temple styles, types of
ceremonial offerings, and the various rites, rituals, and
festivals.
The other religion that has influenced Balinese culture
has been Buddhism which came to these islands many
centuries ago. While the number of practicing Buddhist
in Bali is very small, their entire culture is a blend of
Hinduism and Buddhism. In this very caste and status
conscious society, the prominence enjoyed by a person is
reflected in his name.
Bali has a very long history and traces its people to
prehistoric times. These islands were initially ruled by
their own leaders and were under Java. Thereafter, it
became a Dutch colony. It was only during Word War II
that the Japanese overthrew the Dutch and gained control
of these islands. It was in 1949 that these islands
gained independence with Indonesia.
After 1965 General Suharto came to power and initiated a
decades-long insurrection against communists on the island.
The movement killed an estimated 50,000-10,000 people.
During his administrations the tourist industry really
grew, as did the economy. Most of the local society
revolves around the caste system and a cooperative
structure of the agricultural sector.
Bali is a place of ancient traditions and Hindu culture.
Despite all the cultural mixes and the interruptions it
has had over the years, Bali is still remains a unique
and traditional culture. Despite the fact that many
traditional communities were uprooted during the Suharto
regime, the population of Bali is still bathed in
tradition and follows its ancient cultural practices. The
Balinese culture has survived all the shocks and waves of
change experienced by its neighbors, the people still do
not take their traditions and culture for granted. They
honor these traditions every day and there are many
organizations that are working towards preserving these
cultural traditions for the future.
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