Mark Jarvis: Canang Sari

Three times a day the Balinese place offerings, Canang Sari, in various places around their homes, stores and properties. The offering is a giving back and is embraced as both a duty and an honor. Often they will be shortly consumed by dogs or birds after placement. For the Balinese whose Hindu beliefs are mixed with animism the consuming of the offerings which contain flowers, crackers, cookies and sometimes cigarets by the animals is fair. It is a giving to the spirits that walk among them, the desire being one of harmony and balance. They are also in many ways indicative of the artistic nature of many Balinese and stand as beautiful arrangements in their own right.

So three a day means there's a lot that need to be made. Previously I showed photos of flower markets in Denpasar, they exist elsewhere. Below you can see the three women of the household preparing offerings for the weeks ahead. On the left is Mama. In the Balinese culture people are called by their position in the family regardless if its your family or not. I was called "Father" by a child no more than 5 years of age. So this, is Mama. She welcomed us home each time we went on a journey, performed a ritual Hindu cleansing of our possessions and ourselves before we climbed Gunung Agung, and cried when we left.

The placement of an offering outside a store. You can step on them if you're not welcome, and while I tried my best not to, you wouldn't be held at fault for doing so.

This isn't an offering but more an example of the artistic sensibility of the Balinese. It hangs from the end of a tapering bamboo pole and is used to decorate temples, homes, stores, and many other places and processions.