Bali Tourism News

Bali (Indonesia): Wherever an Indian goes in this island of the gods, the first question is: “Are you a Hindu? I am.” From taxi drivers to tour guides to policemen, the question in this crowded little island of 2.5 million people does not vary.

Over 90 percent of the population is Hindu, and you see signs of that everywhere. Every few steps on the pavement, there is a small leaf-plate, with a few flowers and an incense stick in a corner. It is an offering to the family deity, the locals tell you, and you have to watch your step.

Sounds of worship float out of every neighbourhood temple in the evenings - the gongs, the small drums and the singing where you can pick out a few words of Sanskrit here and there if you listen carefully.

Rabindranath Tagore in his famous poem “Sagarika”, about ancient India’s maritime glory, wrote thus during a visit to Bali around 80 years ago:

“You were sitting on a rocky shore when I first came here as a foreigner. You welcomed me. We picked flowers together. You were at home when I came again as a merchant prince. You welcomed me again. We worshipped the gods together.
Then my fortunes declined. Today I have come to you only with my veena. I can see a lot of myself in you. Can you recognise me?”

Today, the Balinese have a ready answer, as is evident from the fact that Indians are recognised and greeted here.

Of course, the majority of the four million tourists who flocked to Indonesia by September this year - most of them to Bali - came more for the beaches than for the culture. But there are lots of things for the minority too, especially in Ubud, a village on the slopes of a volcano that is famous for its traditional crafts.

Travel and Leisure Magazine calls Bali the best island destination in the Bali: The Island of gods!

It’s situated in a country which has world’s largest Muslim population. But Bali, the green island of Indonesia is actually an abode of Gods, or so believe the local people

Source: Indo Asian News Service