On a visit to Bali in 1991, I was struck by how well the traditional spiritual ways were holding up, despite the massive deluge of tourists, who were mostly unaware of what was going on around them.Intricate ceremonies were going on, commemorating births, deaths, weddings, lots of other things too. Every dwelling, every shop, every eating place had a fresh posy of flowers placed every day on the footpath for the evil spirits, (which I understood to be associated with dogs in some way) and on a raised platform for the good ones. There appeared to be a huge florist industry keeping all this going.
And all the time there were processions and gatherings of people in traditional garb, the women carrying fabulous looking food contributions on their heads, in readiness for a ceremony and/or feast. (1991 pics above left.)
Well it's all still going on. In 2017 the dogs all seem to have collars, and I got the impression most of them are fondly appreciated pets. Evil or not, none of them growled at me this time.
The floral spirit offering industry goes on just as before.
Even on the beaches. Wouldn't want too many unappeased evil spirits hanging out there. This is Legian Beach
A bit further south, on Kuta Beach no less, a cremation had just taken place, and a small but colourful funeral ceremony was going on just the other side of the footpath along which walked the usual procession of oblivious overseas and domestic tourists.
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