Offerings of flower petals and a cigarette

Beautiful colourful petals, in woven baskets, sometimes with a small biscuit or a cigarette, are everywhere in Bali- in homes, doorways and shop entrances.

Colourful petals can be bought at the local market

Even our cab driver had a small basket of petals on the dashboard of his mini van. His wife makes one for his car every day as an offering to the Hindu God, Saang Hyang Widhi Wasa, asking for good luck and safe travels. Their desire to worship and be a good person is driven by the Hindu’s belief of reincarnation and fear of coming back as an inferior being – from an insect to a human.

The sheer number of these floral offering is indicative of the number of Balinese Hindus with over 90% of Balinese adhering to the faith.

As well as the daily offerings, the Balinese have series of religious ceremonies that stretches from birth to death. There are 13 rituals performed from conception until death. However, the most important rituals take place after death so the soul can be freed and eventually reincarnated.