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Religions in Bali
Home » Bali » Bali - The People and the Culture » Religions in BaliBali is made up of over 3 million people, and about 92% of that population is Hindu (unique among the other Muslim Indonesian lands). There is about 5.7% of the population that cling to Islam as their religion, and other minorities include Christianity and Buddhism.
Though Balinese Hinduism originated in India, it is quite different from the current Indian Hinduism. Shaped partly by the influences of Southern and Southeastern Asian Hindu practices, Bali’s Hinduism exists in the midst of rituals and the daily life of Balinese people (rather than philosophy such as is found in India). Their religion can be incorporated into everything they say and do throughout the day; in fact it’s difficult to separate Balinese Hinduism and its significance from their daily life. For example, the music they listen to, their wedding ceremonies, the way they carve wood, their cremation ceremony, the preparation of food, and the dances they perform are all entrenched in rituals designed to please the gods and goddesses of the temple – the most valued structure in all Balinese culture.
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