The Religious Belief System of Bali

The Hindu Dharma, the religious belief system of Bali, governs all activities of the daily life of the Balinese, working, sleeping, eating, praying, dancing, and all other activities are part of and governed by the Dharma.

This short introduction will hopefully serve as a guide to visitors who wish to understand the essence of Balinese life and customs and to help those visitors who wish to witness and participate in some of the religious ceremonies, large or small.
A ritual in a temple festifal would invite spirits of amcertors, Gods amd Goddesses which send messages through human bodies in trance

Once in Ball, some visitors forget lhat, as'in their own societies, religious ceremonies are not commercial performances staged for the pleasure of the tourist,, but are a very important part of the daily life of the community.

As the ceremonies in Bali display spectacular and colorful scenes, they have become a great attraction to visitors who, when they do not understand the procedures, may unwittingly create intrusive distractions leading to misunderstandings for the Balinese and visitors alike.

At times, outsiders are not permitted to attend ceremonies. Visitors are asked to respect these occasions where the presence of outsiders may disturb the ritual activities.