Hilton Chen
The Offering
A woman holds a canang sari (a basket of flowers meant as an offering to the Hindu gods) on her head at a waterfall in Bali. While Indonesia is a Muslim majority nation, Bali is an oasis of Hinduism that stands out from the rest of the country. It's a common sight to see women in Bali dressed like this and carrying baskets on their heads, usually on their way to a village temple. Everywhere you go in Bali you will see small baskets of offerings filled with flowers, incense, small bits of food or coins placed at temples, deities, tiny makeshift shrines, at the threshold to a house or business, or sometimes just in the middle of the street. The creation of these modest offerings model the generosity, faith, and devotion that exists in the hearts and souls of the Balinese people. These values translate into everything they do and everything they are. The Balinese are some of the gentlest, kindest, and most hospitable people that I’ve ever met, and I’m sure this is in no small way due to their culture and religion.
The Offering
A woman holds a canang sari (a basket of flowers meant as an offering to the Hindu gods) on her head at a waterfall in Bali. While Indonesia is a Muslim majority nation, Bali is an oasis of Hinduism that stands out from the rest of the country. It's a common sight to see women in Bali dressed like this and carrying baskets on their heads, usually on their way to a village temple. Everywhere you go in Bali you will see small baskets of offerings filled with flowers, incense, small bits of food or coins placed at temples, deities, tiny makeshift shrines, at the threshold to a house or business, or sometimes just in the middle of the street. The creation of these modest offerings model the generosity, faith, and devotion that exists in the hearts and souls of the Balinese people. These values translate into everything they do and everything they are. The Balinese are some of the gentlest, kindest, and most hospitable people that I’ve ever met, and I’m sure this is in no small way due to their culture and religion.