Hinduism is one of the oldest religions on earth, deriving its elements from a hundred different directions, incorporating every conceivable motive of religion. Worship of earth, sun, nature, sky, ancestors and heroes, mother and father, as well as a mystical association with plants and animals, are all thoroughly explored within the Hindu religion. Balinese spiritual culture in reality is too animistic, too rooted in their native soil and soul to be compared to the Hinduism of India.

In Bali there are two very distinct worlds. The “sekala” is the dimension of existence that most can see and touch. The “niskala” is the unseen (by most) realm of magical currents and forces. The unseen world in Bali is senior and has priority over the physical manifestation we typically call life. In Hindu terminology the physical/material plane of existence is called Maya, or illusion.
The majority of Balinese today have keenly taken on the Hindu dharma system of religion, which is not the Balinese tradition but a system, which protects the “batin” or soul of Bali and its people. Buddhism was maybe a little too compassionate to face the tidal wave of global tourism. The Hindu Dharma is not as high or advanced as the Siwa sect of Hinduism. Hindu Dharma is the basis, or the basic training of spiritual aspirants. For the Balinese sacred culture, Hindu Dharma is simply further protection, similar to a goalie in hockey requiring a protective mask.

The Balinese have continued to “maintain” their culture and traditions despite the rapid developments of the global world. How can the Balinese continue to safeguard and protect their sacred essence while opening and revealing their deepest and most guarded secrets to humanity? One answer is re-education from the roots up; for after 32 years under a socially and politically controlling military dictatorship, confusion and ignorance was allowed to grow. Now this current state of affairs must be countered and corrected through a return to the real roots, so the culture and traditions of Bali and its people will survive.

Another Friday, another recipe from us at Damai. Don’t you just love weekends when you have the time to make something extra for the people you love. No rush. No stress. Just do what you want. This weeks recipe is for making your own sambal, and I can promise that this one is better then the one you find at your local supermarket. Home made, Damai made. Enjoy!

Big chili slices without seeds                               300gr

Garlic slices                                                                10gr

Tomato roughly cut                                                100gr

Shrimp paste                                                            10gr

Small chili slices                                                        2pcs

Cooking oil                                                                 2tbsp

Salt                                                                                10gr

Bali lime juice                                                            1pcs

Sauté the big chili in oil together with garlic, small chili and shrimp paste until heated and then add the tomato. Sauté for 5min. Remove from the heat and then add lime juice and salt. Blend the mixture to a smooth paste.

Galungan means “When the Dharma is winning” it literally means the victory of the good spirit (Dharma) upon evil spirit (Adharma).  During this holiday the Balinese Gods visit the Earth and leave on Kuningan.  The Barongs (a lion-like leader of the hosts of good) dance with the Gods’ from temple to temple and village to village where they are entertained and receive offerings from the people. During the Galungan period the deified ancestors of the family descend to their former homes. Those families who have ancestors that not yet have been cremated but are still buried in the village cemetery, must make offerings at the graves. The villages are beautifully decorated with penjors (brightly decorated very tall bamboo poles with woven young coconut leaves, cakes, fruits and flowers). The roads are particularly beautiful, especially when the penjors are fresh. The day before Galungan is called Pemampahan, which means to slaughter the animals, namely pigs. The meat is finely minced and either wrapped around thick skewers and barbecued as saté or mixed into a fiery assortment called lawar.

On Wednesday, the day of Galungan, one will find that most Balinese will try to return to their own ancestral home at some stage during the day, even if they work in another part of the island. This is a very special day for families, where offerings are made to God and to the family ancestors who have come back to rest at this time in their family temple. As well as the family temple, visits are made to the village temple with offerings as well, and to the homes of other families who may have helped the family in some way over the past six months.

If you happen to visit Bali ahead of Galungan Days, you’ll discover that most temples are attractively decorated, dressed up with batik and white or yellow cloths wrapped around their individual shrines. This ceremony is more celebrated in the north of Bali, so if you’re planning of visiting The Damai and Bali, try to plan it during the Galungan, is a celebration you do not want to miss.

Three months baby’s ceremony is one of biggest the Balinese Hindu rituals to celebrate the age of a baby with the purpose of introducing the world for the young baby. Before the age of three months, the baby is still believed to have a clean soul, holy and not yet introduced to the world and with this ceremony he/she is. It is the day that the baby first touches the ground described as a return to the earth.

One part of this ceremony is “Ngangkid”. The meaning of Ngangkid is to request sweeping to the God which is in the sea. Imploringly holy water which its meaning as sweeping of the baby from all coherent dirt in baby’s body or named harsh body (Stula Sarira). The baby gets water poured over his/hers head in the middle of the sea by the priest and then handed on the parents on land.

The ceremony continues at home where the baby is dressed in a miniature version of a Balinese ceremonial costume, complete with sarong and sash wrapped around its waist, and is given a name. An effigy of the child is made, which the mother carries like a baby as part of the ritual. The image is then thrown away, with the hope that any evil spirits lingering nearby will be confused and, mistaking the effigy for the real child and turn their destructive energies on the image instead. White strings are tied around the baby’s wrist and placed on the baby’s head, the long lengths of cotton represents a long healthy life. Here the baby is also given his or her first jewelry: little silver or gold bracelets and anklets, and a silver box containing a piece of the umbilical cord to wear around the neck. This amulet offers the baby protection from evil spirits and black magic that might attack the still vulnerable child. During this ceremony the baby also gets its first haircut, and the ceremony finishes with both parents praying together with the baby.

An ongoing part of the new Damai blog will be the Friday recipes. We will let you in on our Damai secrets and give you a peek into our kitchen, so you can work magic in the kitchen and amaze your guests. This week we start of easy with a peanut sauce recipe, which is one of the staple ingredients in Nasi Goreng, but can be used to almost anything.

Deep fried peanuts 200gr

Big chili slices without seeds 1/2pcs

Lesser galangal/ginger wash & slices 5gr

Garlic 10gr

Sweet soya sauce 60ml

Water 200ml

Palm sugar 50gr

Salt, for taste

Blend the peanuts, chili, laser galangal/ginger, garlic and water until smooth than put in sauce pan Add the sweet soya, palm sugar and salt when the mixture has started to simmer.

Let it cook for around 10 minutes.

Lesser galangal is from the ginger family, so if you can’t get a hold on lesser galangal try regular ginger but test when adding it. You still want it to be a peanut sauce and not a ginger sauce.