Now, we know that about 92.29% of the population living on the island are Balinese Hinduism, with the rest of the population being Muslims, Buddhists and Christians making up the minority. In other words, the influence of Hinduism being the main religion is evident in its music, drama, art, costumes and festivals which take place daily.
For example, the Ramayana dance is an Hindu dance performance that is very famous all over Southeast Asia, loved especially the most by the Balinese.
There are a few ways of which the Balinese culture can be seen from:
1) Temples
Bali’s temples transform into scenes of great activity and are ornately decorated during festivals with traditional dance performances, cockfighting and gambling. You’ll find that each of Bali’s temples is facing towards the mountains, the sea or sunrise.
One of the temples, known as the "Mother Temple of Bali" for over a thousand years, the Besakih Temple is the biggest and holiest of all the Balinese temples. It is said to be the only temple where a Hindu of any caste can worship.
2) Dances
Bali's preforming arts are an integral part of Balinese culture.
Music and dance play a significant part in rituals and religious ceremonies. Known as " the island of the Gods", hardly a day goes by without a ceremony or festival taking place. Traditional dances with full gamelan orchestras are performed for tourists daily in addition to the day to day religious ceremonies.
An example of a famous dance is the Barong dance, which represents the eternal fight between good and evil.
3) Museums
Bali has such a rich history, leading to a rise in demand to house historical artefacts in a proper place. Therefore, Bali has numerous museums located all over the place, which are open to the public to gain greater insight to the past.
4) Festivals & Events
Festivals and events are important features in the social landscape of Bali, and also permanent fixtures in the lives of the Balinese.
The Balinese believe in annual cycles and every six months of a Balinese's life is a celebration of holidays and life-cycle ceremonies. Since his conception in his mother's womb, every Balinese passes through certain stages, and this carries on up until marriage. These are the events celebrated to mark the passage of a Balinese as he progresses in his life. But the ritual of utmost importance to the Balinese is the ritual of the funeral rites and cremation.
One such example is the Annual Arts Festival. It is a celebration of exhibitions and performances of various kinds of artworks and cultural achievements, including the absorbing Kite Festival.
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