Field notes from Bali, Indonesia

Canang sari, the daily offerings of Bali

9 photos

Fresh offerings at the edge of a street, with a stick of incense tucked in.

One of my favorite traditions I've seen in my travels has been the Balinese offering ritual called Canang sari.

Canang sari is a Balinese Hinduism tradition, typically done by women and always in traditional attire. The offerings are crafted and placed in the household shrines, on the sidewalk, on the beach, at the entrance of temples, etc.

06:12A household shrine at sunrise, with the first offering of the day inside.
08:54Offerings set out on the sand while surfers wait for the waves.
08:56A man praying in front of a row of offerings on the beach.
09:35Taking an offering down to the water's edge.
12:16Two offerings on the sidewalk. People just walk around them.
17:00Two small offerings on a doorstep, late in the afternoon.

It's done to express gratitude and to maintain harmony. The offerings themselves normally consist of a woven tray made of leaves, and inside there are colored flowers, a very fragrant incense (I find it to have a very pleasant and unique smell!), nuts, rice, and other things.

12:20Two offerings side by side, with flowers, rice and a cracker on top.
12:57The woven palm leaf tray that holds it all together.

They do it every day without skipping a beat. And I find it very harmonious with nature, because after the offering is placed, you normally see the birds, squirrels, and other animals coming over for a little snack in the offering.