Balinese culture is heading to the global stage as Bali’s Governor Koster formally opens a new Balinese Hindu temple in Steenwijkerland City in the Netherlands.
There is a large Indonesian community in the Netherlands, many of whom have Balinese heritage. The new temple symbolizes cooperation between the two regions, and there are hopes that it will help encourage more people to visit the island in person.
Bali’s Governor Wayan Koster has been in the Netherlands to attend the formal Pamelaspasan Agung ceremony and inauguration of the Santa Citta Bhuwana Temple in Kallenkote, Steenwijkerland City.
The ceremony took place on the auspicious Kuningan Day, which marks the day in which the ancestors return to the heavens after being called to earth ten days prior, on Galungan Day.
The Galungan and Kuningan festival happens in Bali every 210 days and are most known to tourists as the festival where the magnificent penjor, or tall and ornately decorated bamboo poles line the streets.
Governor Koster personally bought the ceremonial items needed for the pamelaspasan ceremony which is a kind of purification ceremony conducted for newly built temples, newly reconstructed temple buildings, and sacred spaces.
In his statements, Governor Koster shared his gratitude for the Indonesian Embassy in the Netherlands and the owners of Taman Indonesia, where Santa Citta Bhuwana Temple has been built.
Governor Koster shared “I hope that this temple will be utilized optimally by the Balinese community in the Netherlands, and maintained so that it will provide benefits forever, not only for the sake of holidays but as a means of gathering to develop a sense of family and togetherness among the Balinese people as a form of dedication to the Indonesian nation and state.”
There was a big turnout for the event, with many Dutch nationals greeting Governor Koster and even posing for selfies. The Governor told reporters “The desire to build this temple has been around for a long time, but it can only be realized starting in 2023. This temple is the first in Europe to be built through the mutual cooperation of the Balinese people in the Netherlands.
The Indonesian Ambassador to the Netherlands, Mayerfas, and his family were also in attendance at the inauguration ceremony. He told reporters “The desire to build this temple has been around for a long time, but it can only be realized starting in 2023. This temple is the first in Europe to be built through mutual cooperation of the Balinese people in the Netherlands.”
Speaking seperarly the Head of the Bali Abdi Samasta Foundation that oversees the Shanta Citta Bhuwana Temple, Made Aniadi, told reporters that the temple is “Open to anyone who believes. Non-Hindu people are also welcome. The rules are the same (as in Bali). If you come with family, the whole family must wear Balinese traditional clothing.”
There are approximately 250 Balinese Hindu people living in the Overijssel Province of the Netherlands, a population of 1.18 million people. In Bali Province, official figures show that 87% of the population are Balinese Hindus, which make up around 1.7% of the overall population of Indonesia.
In the last month, Governor Koster has ordered that the province complete a census to help get a better picture of how the culture can be protected and preserved, especially in light of the growing tourism sector on the island.
Governor Koster has also implemented a series of policies that further help protect and preserve Balinese culture, like all school children and government staff wearing traditional clothing every Thursday as well as on full moon and new moon days in many cases. Governor Koster has also been a big advocate for the preservation of the Balinese language.
Though, earlier this month the Badung Regent I Wayan Adi Arnawa confirmed that he would be rolling out a village-based English-language training program to help improve the tourism sector and give young people in the area more opportunities to work and travel. Regent Arnawa told reporters “Rather than just playing with their cellphones, it is better if we provide English learning. This is an important investment for their future.”
He noted, “I am very aware that, in addition to the mother tongue, Balinese, English proficiency is also an important key. As a tourism area, our children must be able to speak foreign languages in order to compete in the world of work.”
The balance between sharing culture and opening culture up to those outsiders, and protecting and preserving culture in its purest form, is a fine one, and one that Bali has long been committed to. While the opening of a Balinese Hindu temple outside of Indonesia is an exciting opportunity for culture-curious travelers who are unable to get to Bali, ultimately, the province is on a mission to attract more international tourists.
With a strict caveat that all must be culturally respectful. Some of the best places to learn more about Balinese culture while on the island are Pura Besakih Temple, Tanah Lot Temple, GWK Cultural Park, and the ARMA Museum in Ubud, to name but a few.
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