27/08/2020
Even from the very first time you step your foot in Bali, you would notice small, square containers made from coconut leaves containing colorful flowers and pieces of snacks on every street, building, and entrance. Those are offerings are made by Balinese people for the gods as a form of their gratitude.
The offering is called canang or canang sari. It is a part of Balinese Hinduism ritual for daily prayers, usually in the early morning or dusk. Inside the small square containers made of coconut leaves, they put flowers, a pinch of rice (or substituted by snacks made of rice), traditional herbs, and small portions of food they have in the house.
To put canang on its designated spot, there is a short individual ritual to be done. It starts with lighting incense. You can tell when a Balinese is going to perform this ritual as they will wear praying attire, which includes a traditional shirt or blouse and a fabric wrapped around as a sarong with a scarf tied around the waist. However, most of the times, they would only wear the scarf.
In case you step on these offerings accidentally, it is okay as long as you don’t disturb the ritual.
