Bali's Spirit of Thankfulness

As day breaks in Bali and you step out into its world, you'll soon begin to notice what appear to be tiny baskets of colorful flowers placed almost everywhere you look. They are called canang sari and these hand-crafted creations are not there for tourists, they are a daily sacred ritual in the Balinese-Hindu culture.

The island of Bali is a dreamy locale that finds itself on many traveler’s bucket list. Located in the Southern Hemisphere, Bali is one of 17,000 islands that make up the country of Indonesia, the largest archipelago in the world. Its terraced rice fields, architectural temples, beaches, and tropical sunshine may be what attracts travelers to its shores, but it’s the Balinese people, their culture, and their smiles that leave a lasting impression in the hearts and minds of those lucky enough to journey to this magical island.

My journey to Bali took me to the town of Ubud, located in the central foothills of the island. Ubud is often thought of as the cultural and artistic center of Bali, and our production team arrived to explore and film the indigenous art & crafts of this unique province. Ubud is also Bali’s most tourism-driven town, so understanding that will help you maneuver around the touristy spots to seek out authentic experiences.

Canang sari is one aspect of the Balinese culture that I immediately fell in love with as it carries great significance and meaning. In the Balinese language, canang, roughly translates as ‘basket of flowers’ and sari means ‘essence’. These tiny tributes, some simple, some more elaborate are hand-made every day and are offered to the Balinese Hindu gods as a way of thanking them for balance and peace on earth and for maintaining balance between good and evil.

Each element within these petite, origami-like offerings may look random, but their placement is precise. The woven base is created from a palm leaf and is a symbol of the earth and the moon. The three major Hindu Gods are also represented in this offering; a white lime for the god Shiva, a red betel nut for Vishnu, and a green Gambier plant for the god Brahma. Then on top of this flower petals are placed, each flower is selected for its color and significance in symbolizing a direction related to a Hindu god. White-colored flower petals point to the east, red flowers for the south, yellow-colored petals point to the west and blue or green-colored flowers for the northern direction.

A coin or banknote and a small bit of food are added as a means of self-sacrifice to the gods. The ritual of making canang sari ends with a prayer. Smoke from a burning stick of incense carries the essence of the offerings to the Hindu gods.

Traditionally, Balinese women oversee the making of these offerings in the early hours of the morning, but with more Balinese woman working outside the home, offerings can now be bought in local markets. There are even groups of women whose job it is to prepare and bless the offerings before delivering them to the markets.

What’s amazing is that although much effort is dedicated to the making of these daily devotionals, at the end of each day, their remains are swept away and the next morning, this ritual begins again. For me, as I traveled throughout Bali, I realized that canang sari are more than just colorful baskets of flowers, they are a sacred art form which expresses the Balinese people’s sense of gratitude, a daily gift of self-sacrifice and a spirit of thankfulness – these values translate into everything they do and everything they are.

Traveling to a foreign country and immersing oneself into an unfamiliar culture is something I wish everyone could experience. Travel truly is hands-on education. Before setting foot on a plane, dive deeply into researching a country’s customs and culture. To me, this is more important than delving into what you’re going to do when you get there. Knowledge of a country’s culture leads to wisdom, which allows you to engage authentically with locals, but more importantly, wisdom allows you as a traveler to understand, respect and appreciate customs and culture different from your own.

Travel Tips

• When in Ubud, make sure to visit the main market, located across from the Ubud Palace. You can purchase canang sari offerings, flowers, food, household items, even clothing, but make sure you get there around sunrise, so you really see the market from a local perspective - after 9am it becomes more touristy.

• December through March is Bali’s rainy season. The dry season (and tourist season) is July through September. The shoulder months before and after the rainy season are often good times to enjoy Bali while avoiding crowds.

• There are no direct flights from the U.S. to Bali, so travel time is approximately 23 hours, with layovers in cities like Hong Kong, Taipei, or Shanghai. Seriously consider upgrading to business class or at least extra comfort seats - it'll be worth it.

• Remember, always respect the local culture. When in doubt, let the words 'modest' and 'humble' guide you.