Offerings

The theme of this series is called “Offerings”, offerings of beauty, devotion and sacrifice. Making offerings to appease the deities and spirits is a common practice for Balinese Hindus in Bali, Indonesia. Offerings consist of flowers, food, water, money and incense placed on banana leaves or palm leaf baskets. They can be very elaborate if prepared for temple ceremonies or important events. Each color of the flowers and powder represents different Hindu deity and the accompanying gifts reflect selflessness. Making offerings is a woman’s duty and is performed three times a day. Women make or purchase many offerings each day to place them throughout their house, shrines, and business. Often rice, meat and vegetables are placed in the offering, which end up feeding insects and small animals, in line with the Hindu philosophy of caring for all living creatures. Offerings are beautiful in form and meaning. 

I was mesmerized by the beauty and ubiquitousness of offerings while traveling in Bali. They are literally everywhere you go. I admired women who busy themselves throughout the day making these offerings which they say is a meditative act. They looked so serene and graceful in their devotional act, dressed in traditional sarongs and laced blouses. As I delved into the meaning of offerings, a whole new world opened up. I also learned their names - canang sari, banten saiban, gebogan, penjor and bija. There is a symbolic significance to each item carefully arranged in the offering. I watched as a monkey nibbled on the cooked rice and grabbed a sliced banana, the circle of life continuing harmoniously in Bali.