Discover the meaning of Saraswati and Pagerwesi, two powerful Balinese Hindu ceremonies that honor divine wisdom and spiritual protection. A soulful guide for seekers drawn to Bali’s sacred rhythm.
Bali Spiritual Etiquette
Bali Spiritual Etiquette
by Jack van den Berg
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Guidelines to respectful behaviour
Bali is more than a destination. It is a living, breathing temple where spirit is not reserved for the extraordinary, but infused into daily life. From the delicate petals of morning offerings to the silent devotion of a priest’s gaze, the island speaks a language of reverence. For visitors who feel this presence, even if they don’t yet understand it, the invitation is simple: come with respect.
Balinese spirituality is not something you attend — it is something you enter. And like any sacred space, there are ways to walk that path with grace. These guidelines are not rules to obey, but gestures of alignment with a deeper rhythm. To honor the unseen is to be welcomed into it.
Core principles of Balinese spiritual etiquette
1. Dress Modestly and Wear a Sarong. Before entering any temple or attending a ceremony, it is customary to wear a sarong and sash, regardless of gender. Covering the legs and waist is a sign of humility and readiness. Many temples provide sarongs, but bringing your own shows intention.
2. Never Step Over Offerings (Canang Sari). Small palm-leaf offerings are placed everywhere — on sidewalks, stairs, shrines. They are living prayers, not decorations. Step around them mindfully. Even when they appear simple, they carry the essence of gratitude and blessing.
3. Remain Quiet and Observant in Ceremonies. Ceremonies are not spectacles. They are sacred rituals. Refrain from chatting, laughing, or expressing loud emotions. Silence is a bridge — it allows you to receive without disrupting the spiritual flow.
4. Ask Before Taking Photos. Photography can be a form of reverence or a form of intrusion. Always ask before photographing people, especially priests or ceremonial acts. When in doubt, put the camera down and be fully present.
5. Don’t Point Your Feet Toward Shrines or People. Feet are considered the lowest part of the body energetically. Avoid sitting with your feet pointing at altars, statues, or people, especially elders or spiritual leaders. Sit cross-legged or with feet tucked to the side.
6. Be Mindful of Your Head. The head is considered the most sacred part of the body. Do not touch others on the head, especially children or priests. This includes casual gestures like ruffling hair.
7. Avoid Interrupting Ceremonies or Entering Restricted Areas. If you arrive during a ceremony, wait quietly at the edges. Some parts of temples or rituals are not open to visitors. Respect local boundaries and follow the guidance of local authorities or temple keepers.
8. Don’t Use Flash or Loud Equipment. If photography is permitted, turn off the flash and shutter sounds. Drones and loud devices break the vibrational field of a sacred space. Presence always comes before documentation.
9. Offer with Clean Hands and Clear Intent. If you're invited to make an offering, do so with clean hands and a quiet mind. It is not about performance but sincerity. A simple flower given with reverence is a greater gift than a lavish one given with distraction.
10. Do Not Participate in Ceremonies or Enter Temples During Menstruation. This applies equally to Balinese women and female visitors, and is not a matter of discrimination, but of spiritual integrity.
Energetic Boundaries: Why This Matters in Bali
In the Balinese spiritual worldview, sacred spaces and ceremonies are carefully balanced fields of energy. Everything — from the timing of a ritual to the placement of an offering — is guided by unseen principles designed to uphold spiritual harmony. During menstruation, a woman’s body is undergoing a natural cycle of purification and release. This powerful inward movement, while sacred in its own right, is considered energetically incompatible with the highly tuned, ceremonial energy of temples and rituals.
This is not about shame, impurity, or exclusion. It is about honoring both the temple and the woman, each in their rightful vibration. Just as one wouldn’t pour clean water into a vessel mid-cleansing, entering a temple while menstruating is seen as energetically discordant — not only for the person herself, but for the whole ceremonial field.
Visitors are kindly asked to honor this tradition with humility and grace. It’s an opportunity to attune oneself not only to the customs of the land, but to the deep respect for energetic harmony that lies at the heart of Balinese spirituality. Sometimes, the most powerful form of participation is to stay outside, in quiet reverence, and let the ceremony move through the wind, the incense, and the heart.
To walk gently in Bali is to be changed by it. Spiritual etiquette is not about getting everything right. It is about listening deeply, entering with respect, and remembering that sacredness is not always announced — it is felt. May your journey through Bali be one of reverence, learning, and inner quietude.
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