Working is a ritual of life and 'dharma' for Balinese women

Text and photos by Murdani Usman

GIANYAR, Bali (JP): Balinese women are often portrayed on painters' canvasses in romantic images of beautiful nymphs from heaven, embellished with gold-thread and intricate costumes with flowers in their hair.

In reality, their dignified beauty reflects more in their daily activities. In Balinese society, women play significant roles both in their families and their religious and traditional communities.

Traditionally, women wake up very early in the morning, do family chores, prepare food and temple offerings, and take care of their children.

In modern times, Balinese women have the same rights as men. They can be doctors, teachers, engineers and even construction workers.

Not all Balinese women are fortunate to have rich families or husbands. Many of them must work hard to make ends meet. Yet, it is their dignity and their devotion to the family and the Creator that keep them feeling vigorous despite hardship.

The Balinese consider working as part of religious rites and dharma which should be carried out wholeheartedly. Many women in Bali have to work in supposedly male-dominated fields, like building construction.

These women have muscular shoulders, hips and legs for their labor-intensive work like digging and carrying heavy loads on their heads. Under the heat of the sun, they climb hills and walk for kilometers to fetch water and to find pumice stones and other building materials.

It is not their nature to complain because working is their ritual of life and a way to fulfill their dharma.