Canang: The Daily Simple Offerings

Every day, Balinese Hindus set out canang to signify their devotion and acknowledgement to the Divine. Flowers, water and fire are the basic elements of the simple offering.

If you walk anywhere in Bali, you'll pass shops, homes and even roadside stands adorned with a woven young coconut or banana leaf offerings. These offerings generally include a cluster of small flowers and a burning incense stick. They are omnipresent and are referred to as canang, a simple offering to the Divine. Women and men don their traditional garb of a sash and sarong and find time before starting their daily routine to place offerings in front of doors or gates, and sprinkle holy water saying a short solemn prayer.

These offerings are presented every day without fail. Hinduism is completely intertwined with daily life in Bali, and for the Balinese presenting canang is as much a part of the day's routine as is brushing one's teeth or having breakfast.

Canang are presented as part of the three basic elements of an offering.

The Bhagavad Gita, one of the primary Hindu texts, relates the story of Krishna, who is believed to be God's incarnation. Krishna said to Arjuna, another prominent Hindu figure, that “to whom presents me with flowers, fire and water, I will receive it and bestow happiness and blessings upon them”. This is the inspiration for the three basic elements of the offering.

The canang are placed with purpose. Presented first to the Padmasana, which is the home altar, canang are also placed in front of the home or shop to keep the area safe and to avoid problems.

A Balinese will also place canang on the stove, in the rice box and on the well, to honor the patron gods and goddesses of these places. Dewa Brahma is the patron of the stove, for he is the god of Creation as symbolized by fire. Dewi Sri, the goddess of rice, is very important in Bali and one of her symbols is the rice box. Water of course is of great significance, so canang on the well is tribute to Dewa Wisnu, the Protector and Sustainer of Life.

Dewa Kuwera, the god of wealth, is honored by merchants who place canang on their money boxes or cash registers. Teachers and students present canang to Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge. There are no directions about where exactly canang must be placed, ensuring that Balinese Hinduism remains dynamic as the world changes.

The Balinese believe that there are Divine powers that administer the universe. Primarily God, who is always at the highest level. Other high-level spirits are one's ancestors; the Balinese believe that the spirits of the elders protect and guide the current generations 'from a distance'. For this reason, canang are also placed at burial sites or upon tombs.

Lower spirits are known as Butha Kala, portrayed as devils, demons or other bad spirits. These lower spirits remain hidden, often in banyan trees or in accident-prone road zones like T-junctions and intersections.

Canang are made daily, usually by women although men can participate also. The materials are collected from the land or house garden, where flowers, coconut or banana trees and other plants are grown. The offerings are handmade and arranged in beautiful and unique designs.

As the population of Bali grows though, it is getting more difficult for Balinese to find their canang materials at home. Fewer people have the space for gardens, as there are fewer large open areas. Developed areas are denser than ever, especially in the 'metropolitan' areas like Denpasar and South Bali. As a result more Balinese are buying the materials for canang or even the offerings themselves at traditional markets.

Lack of time is also a factor in the increase of ready-made canang. Making the offerings is a time-consuming enterprise; more and more women are in the workplace and buy readily-made canang as they would buy pre-prepared meals for the family. Fortunately, canang do continue to be available in local markets, particularly near Denpasar and the Badung market, where there is an entire section solely displaying the item.

While Bali is not immune from the consumerism frenzy that seems to be sweeping the developed world, it is still a very devout island. It is a tribute to the ingeniousness of the Balinese that they have managed not just to preserve a traditional means of devotion but also to create jobs and industry around it, fueling economic growth among those who might not have other opportunities. ■

Text by Ni Luh Dian Purniawati, photos by Donny Cahyadi