Daily Balinese Offerings

What I Learned in Bali Today

In Bali you'll see small square or round palm leaves filled with colourful flowers, rice, other foodstuffs and even cigarettes (in this photo I took), lying on the ground either in front of houses, shops or temples.They are daily Balinese offerings called Canang Sari and are symbols of thankfulness to the Hindu god, Ida Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa. They are set out with burning incense sticks and sprinkled with holy water several times per day. The colours of the flowers are not randomly chosen. Each colour has a different meaning as does the direction in which they are facing.

• White-colored flowers that point to the east as a symbol of Iswara
• Red-colored flowers that point to the south as a symbol of Brahma
• Yellow-colored flowers that point to the west as a symbol of Mahadeva
• Blue or green colored flowers that point to the north as a symbol of Vishnu

Because they take time and effort to prepare they represent self sacrifice. It's considered disrespectful to walk on or over the Canang Sari.