At the core of their religion is the belief that the island was given to the Balinese by the gods. Therefore it's regarded as the sacred duty of all Balinese to pay homage to the gods with festivals, processions and dances. In addition to religion, family and community obligations play a large part in Balinese life. Within each community there is a fixed social hierarchy based on the Hindu caste system. Each member of the community has a role to play, putting the community as a whole ahead of the individual.
Bali today is a mixture of modern and traditional life.
The deeply spiritual faith of the Hindu Balinese is very evident, with an enormous amount of time and energy volunteered in the daily practice of their religion. Nevertheless, a number of old customs have been lost in more recent times. As the standard of living in most parts of Bali continues to advance, an increase in educational standards is leading to a better understanding of the Hindu Bali religion and associated traditions and customs. The Balinese welcome tourists, despite the differences in attitude and lifestyle, and are generally tolerant and good natured towards what they see as the somewhat peculiar and intrusive mannerisms of tourists. Copyright 2000, Klub Kokos.