Bali's culture is based on a form of Hinduism called "Hindu Darma" which is believed to have arrived on the island during the 11th century. This religion plays a heavy part in the family customs and community lifestyle but is a world away from that of India's Hindu. Its influence expands extensively into the arts, which gives Bali its individuality from the rest of Indonesia. The Balinese have managed to preserve their culture despite the ever increasing number of tourists 
to the island.
Each stage of Balinese life is marked by a series of ceremonies and rituals known as Manusa Yadnya. The first ceremony of Balinese life takes place even before birth. Another ceremony takes place soon after the birth, during which the afterbirth is buried with appropriate offerings. The first major ceremony takes place halfway through the baby's first Balinese year of 210 days.(At the other end of things )A Balinese cremation can be an amazing, spectacular, colorful, noisy and exciting event. In fact it often takes so long to organise a cremation that years have passed since the death. During that time the body is temporarily buried while an auspicious day is chosen for the cremation. Since a big cremation can be very expensive , less wealthy people may take the opportunity of joining in at a larger cremation , sending their own dead on their way at the same time.last one in bali femous tree coffe is ever heard of ava coffe
COSTUM & TRADITION :
- The good news is that things are now changing a bit for the.Balinese women, especially those in urban areas. Many Balinese families become more aware of the need to educate and respect their daughters. Yep, today we have Balinese women doctors, lawyers, professors etc. In addition, all Balinese children of both sexes are now required to attend elementary school; and the numbers of girls continuing their studies to the middle and high schools are rising. The higher education level has also affecting the drastically lowering number of men with more than one wife, and polygamy, once glorious, is now often judged backwards. Balinese women with wealth can now open their own bank accounts to save against the possibility of divorce. Several local organizations are now offering supports for the Balinese women seeking divorce in civil courts.
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Balinese society is traditionally divided into different levels. The nobility of Bali consist of three upper castes. Brahmanas, the teachers and priests,
bear the title of Ida Bagus
for men and Ida Ayu for women. The Ksatriyas, history's warrior class, are known as Dewa Agung or Cokorda, depending upon their individual family origins. The Wesya, the merchants and financiers of old, possess the name of Gusti. These upper classes evolved during feudal times and can generally trace their ancestry to the rulers and courtiers of the Hindu Majapahit Kingdom, who moved to Bali during Java's Islamic invasion in the fourteenth century.The majority of Balinese however trace their descendancy from the original islanders who lived outside the palaces farmers and working
visitors to the island.
Bali is find their roots in symbolically decorative adornment of palace and temple. The royal courts were once opulent centres of the arts, filled with carved wooden panels, paintings, silken hangings and stone sculptures by the best of artists and artisans on the island. Remarkable statues, stone friezes, gilded umbrellas and intricately carved wooden pillars still grace the multitude of temples. Artistic talents have always been orientated towards pleasing the nobility and the gods, so much so that artistry was once inseparable from courtly life and spiritual practices.
The twentieth century brought subtle changes in the orientation of the arts. Education, technology, television, and a burgeoning tourist industry widened the possibilities for both artists and craftsmen
The qualities most appreciated by the Balinese artist are fine detail, technical precision and sureness of hand, related to the particular tradition of style in the art form concerned. New forms are quickly assimilated and approached on these terms. Art works are now judged with a double criterion, either according to the appreciation of fellow Balinese, or by the appeal and value placed upon them by foreign buyers. The tourist market for cheap souvenirs does little to support this system of values, but an environment where artistry is an all-pervading, integral part of the culture, allows all levels of creativity. Very often the children learn their crafts by making souvenirs. By the time they reach maturity the strong system of values in the community has been so firmly implanted
