Culture

The island's population predominantly practices Balinese Hinduism—a combination of local beliefs infused with Hindu influences from South East Asia and South Asia. The island's Muslim minority also helps to enrich Bali's cultural landscape and give it a distinctive look and feel that remains unmatched by any other tourist hotspot.

Bali's art scene is thriving, fuelled by the booming tourism industry. If you're experiencing Bali for the first time, there are several things to look forward to. The performing arts scene often portrays stories from Hindu lore such as the Ramayana with a heavy dose of Balinese influence. There are also the popular dances and musical performances among locals and tourists alike such as pendet, legong, barong and kecak (monkey dance). If you'd like to experience the art scene for yourself, you can pay a visit to any of the thousands of temple festivals, ceremonies or live public shows that are held regularly. Most Balinese temple rituals are accompanied by a combination of music, dance and play which makes it a unique sight.

One of the most distinctive celebrations in Bali has to be the Hindu New Year, or more commonly known as Nyepi by the locals. It is celebrated with a day of complete silence. Locals make it a point to keep indoors while tourists are strongly encouraged to stay in their hotels as a mark of respect for this auspicious celebration. The day before Nyepi however, the activities are in full swing as large, colourful sculptures of ogoh-ogoh monsters are paraded and finally burned in the evening to drive away evil spirits. In addition, there are also several other celebrations that are presented in ceremonial art forms and many that call for a loud, energetic atmosphere.