Photo Essay : Bali : A Visit With the Spirits of Balinese Culture

The Indonesian island of Bali, an outpost of Hinduism in the world’s most populous Muslim nation, has a touch of magic even in its name. Being there adds to the mystique. The English have their majestic Horse Parade, the Brazilians the rowdy Carnaval, but when it comes to charm, no culture can top the Balinese.

Their most important festival is Galungan, beginning on the day of that name and ending on Kuningan, 10 days later, a period when commerce comes to a standstill and the ancestral spirits are said to visit. In accordance with Balinese calendars, the festival falls every seven months and this year will take place on May 31 and Dec. 27 in upland towns such as Ubud.

All the gods of Bali, including the supreme deity, Sanghyang, come down to Earth for the festivities, the Balinese believe. Altars hold offerings of flowers, fruit and other foods.

The busy tourist beaches around the capital, Denpasar, are the famous face of Bali. But the real Bali is inland, where the spirits come to visit on Galungan.