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RELIGION


Some of the TOP Hotels in Bali

Bali's most famous and crowded resort is Kuta beach, a six-kilometre sweep of golden sand, with plenty of accommodation, shops and nightlife. Nearby Sanur is much quieter, but most backpackers prefer the beaches of peaceful east-coast Candi Dasa and traveller-oriented Lovina on the north coast. The island's other major destination is the cultural centre of Ubud , a still charming but undeniably commercialized overgrown village, where traditional dances are staged every night of the week and the streets are full of arts-and-crafts galleries.

Nusa Dua Beach Hotel & Spa
: The Nusa Dua Beach Hotel & Spa is a luxury property strategically located only 15 kilometers away from the... Nusa Dua
Aston Bali Resort & Spa : The Aston Bali Resort and Spa is a luxury hotel located on the waterfront facing golden sandy beaches... Tanjung Benoa
Sanur Paradise Plaza Hotel : Sanur Paradise Plaza Hotel is situated in the coastal village of Sanur, an ideal location from which to explore... Sanur
Sanur Paradise Plaza Suites : The Sanur Paradise Plaza Suites is located in Sanur Village just two kilometers from the Sanur Paradise Plaza Hotel....Grand Bali Beach Hotel also is a nice hotel in Sanur.
Swiss Belhotel Bali Aga : The Swiss Belhotel Bali Aga is a deluxe property strategically located only 20 kilometers northeast from the Ngurah Rai... Nusa Dua
Grand Hyatt Bali Hotels located in Nusa Dua and The Oberoi Bali located in Seminyak, Maya Ubud located in Ubud, The Alilia Ubud, Chedi, Hard Rock Hotel Bali located in Kuta beach, Melia Bali located in Nusa Dua and Padma Bali located in Kuta

 


Bataks are basically animists with a veneer of education and Christianity covering very complex and sophisticated beliefs. The local pastor is likely to play the drums in a 2-day ritual to keep away Christian-type devils. Their religions are roughly divided: the northern groups are animists, the central groups are Christians (around Lake Toba), while those of the south are mostly Muslims (the Mandailing group is the strongest Muslim). The Bataks today are the largest Protestant group in the east. Out of 3 million, about 2 million are Christian. They were first converted by a fearless German missionary, Nommensen, who arrived in 1861 with only a bible and a violin. Nommensen delivered the death sentence on the old religion when he persuaded the Dutch East Indies government to prohibit the collective sacrificial celebrations (bius) and the playing of Batak musical instruments, wiping out at one blow their whole 'pagan' world. Today, regardless of their nbminal faith, half the population still believes in spirits of dead ancestors, sacred trees, stones and places (parsinumbuhan), and in a Hindu-like panthenon of higher deities (begu). Since decisions must be inspired and sanctioned by ancestors, elders still sit on ancestral stone chairs for communal meetings. Bataks have an elaborate mythology and cosmology. Tondi (soul stuff) determines contentment, temporal wealth and power; at death it departs to dwell in another organism. Male priests and wizards (datu), skilled in sorcery and in the use of natural poisons, are also specialists in occult knowledge and divination, using Hindu zodiac and magical tables. Spirits of the dead are contacted through female mediums (sibaso) If you're lucky, you'll see a funeral. Christian Batak funerals have brass bands' events: There are a rich variety of male-oriented ceremonies, feasts, rituals. Even-numbers are traditionally considered ill-omened and even dangerous, so no feasts or celebrations are ever held on these days of the month. Odd numbers are more auspicious, especially the number 7 which is the number of all the Batak tribes.