BALINESE VILLAGE ORGANIZATIONS

The smallest unit of social organization in each village is the banjar or neighborhood. Each adult male on Bali joins the local banjar when he marries; his wife and children are also members but only the adult men attend the meetings. 

The size of banjar varies enormously -  the largest ones in Denpasar may have five hundred heads of household, while the small rural ones may have as few as fifty.

            Typically the banjar meets every month in the village meeting house, the Bale Banjar, to discuss land issues, plans for future temple ceremonies, the local gamelan orchestra, latest government project and any problems relating to specific members. Although there is a head of the banjar ( Kliang ), all decisions are reached by consensus. 

             The Banjar has considerable authority, if residential land in the area is left vacant for a period of time, it will revert to the banjar for retribution to the members. If members neglect their duties they can be fined or even expelled from the village. This is a particularly powerful threat among people where communal life is at the heart of their existence. Expulsion also means the loss of the right to burial and cremation within the village.

             

THE SUBAK

Much of the daily life of a village revolves around the sawah, or Rice-fields, and numerous complex rituals accompany all the stages of rice cultivation encapsulated in the worship of Dewi Sri, the goddess of rice and prosperity.

            The local organization in charge of each irrigation system is the subak; these are known to have existed on Bali since the nine century, and are made up of all the farmers who use the water in that system, along with detailed planning to ensure that every farmer gets the water he needs, is co-ordinate by the kliang Subak. Any subak with plans that may influence the irrigation system, such as changing dry field to wet, or causing conflict with another subak, has to consult the regional water temples and ultimately, the Jero Gede, Chief priest of Pura Ulun Danu Batur, whose decision at island level is final.

           The Subak Museum, on the eastern outskirts of Tabanan, is well worth a visit for more information on this unique aspect of Balinese life.