Survival of the Harmonious
Balinese Youth on their Hinduism
At about 10A.M., Wayan walks out of her family’s house with sarong neatly wrapping
her thin adolescent waist, balancing a woven basket abundantly full of offerings to the
gods, perfumed and smoking gracefully. She looks natural, and her movements are as
deliberate as anyone who is relaxed with their tasks. On her face is initially an expression
of discomfort—the new look of gravity and responsibility, but it soon transforms into an
overall appearance of appreciation as she walks, stretches, crouches, and meditates
from one station to the next within the garden.
It is wondered: What is
Wayan thinking and
experiencing now as
she travels through the
garden
stopping
at
the shrines and special
points in the yard to
pay homage to the
Hindu gods? As she
waves
the
essence,
the sari, of the offering
towards the gods, and
as the smoke from the incense wafts towards the heavens, what drives her to it? How
does she feel about her religious heritage?
Regardless of the outcome, the gods will surely be pleased with Wayan’s family today.
With manifest devoutness, abundant thanks is being given to them for the rent money
that has been recently paid. Wayan’s basket is reloaded with offerings more than
once.