Balinese Village, its Culture, Traditions and Social Life.

Balinese Village Life
Most Balinese earn their living from agriculture and live in villages. Other work on industries such as tourism industry, government offices, teachers and other supporting business. People employed in the cities or tourist resorts may well commute from their village home each day, and even those whose villages are far away still identify with them and return on particular festivals.

Village Layout
Orientation in the Balinese world does not follow the compass point of north, south, east and west. Gunung Agung is the dwelling place of the Gods and is the highest peak on Bali. It is the reference point to all Bali direction. The main direction are Kaja, towards the mountain and Kelod, away from the mountain or toward the sea, Kangin the east, and its opposite, Kauh the west.

House Compounds
Each Balinese house hold consists of several structures and is built within confining wall. When a son of the family marries, his wife will usually move into his compound. Most local activities take place outside or in the partial shelter of bale, raised platforms supported by wooden pillars, with thatched roof. Outside the Kelod wall, families have their garbage tip and pig pens. prior to calling in the Undagi, the master builder who understand the rules relating to buildings laid down in ancient test, and expert in the Balinese calendar is consulted, as an auspicious they must be chosen. Before building starts a ceremony takes place in which an offering, usually a brick wrapped in white clothe and is place in the foundation of each building to make the work will process smoothly. When the work is finished, a series of ceremony must take place before the compound can occupied. The final ceremony is the Malaspas, an inauguration ritual which "brings the building to life".

Village Organization
The smallest unit of social organization in each village in Bali is the Banjar, or neighborhood. Each adult male must join the local Banjar when he got married. The banjar gathers in the village meeting house, called the bale banjar to discuss land issues, plans for temple ceremonies, the local gamelan orchestra, government project and any problems. All decisions are reached by consensus. The banjar has considerable authority of the local community.
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