The many unseen inhabitants of
Bali - gods, ancestors and demons - are treated by the Balinese
as honored guests through the daily presentation of offerings
(banten) of every imaginable shape, color and substance. These
are first and foremost gifts - expressing gratitude to benevolent
spirits, and placating mischievous demons to prevent them from
disturbing the harmony of life.
Simple offerings are presented daily as a matter of course, while
more elaborate ones are specially produced for specific rituals.
After the daily food is prepared, for example, tiny packets are
presented to the resident gods of the household before the family
eats. Every day, too, the spirits are presented with tiny canang
- palm leaf trays containing flowers and betel as a token of hospitality.
Being gifts to higher beings, these offerings must be attractive,
and a great deal of time and effort is expended to make them so.
Leaves are laboriously cut, plaited and pinned together into decorative
shapes (jejaitan). Multi-colored rice flour cookies (jajan) are
modeled into tiny sculptures and even into entire scenes which
have a deep symbolic significance quite apart from their decorative
function. In many ways, therefore, the production of offerings
may be regarded as an important traditional art form that still
flourishes on Bali.
Materials and preparation
Aside from a few durable elements employed, like coins, cloth
and an occasional wooden mask, offerings are generally fashioned
of perishable, organic materials. Not only the materials, but
also the function of these objects is transitory. Once presented
to the gods, an offering may not be used again and similar ones
have to be produced again and again each day.
The preparation of offerings is one of the many tasks undertaken
by every Balinese woman. Within the household, women of several
generations work together, and in this way knowledge and skills
are handed down to the young. To a limited extent, men also cooperate,
for it is their task to slaughter animals and prepare most meat
offerings.
Many women in Bali even make a living by acting as offering specialists
(tukang banten). Their main task is to direct the armies of people
who collectively produce offering for large rituals at home or
in the communal temple. They are able to coordinate this work
because they know the types and ingredients of offerings required
for each occasion.
As more and more Balinese women work outside the home in offices
or tourist hotel they have less time to undertake elaborate ritual
preparations themselves. This result in an increasing demand for
ready-mad offerings that many tukang banten produce in their own
home with the help of women they employ. In spite of this limited
commercialization, the meaning and ritual use of offerings is
not diminishing in Bali.
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