You may come across a Balinese temple while on tour or perhaps you will have a chance to visit a temple during its wonderful odalan temple festival. In any case there are some things you should know beforehand. These are rules that the Balinese themselves follow, and they request guests to do the same.

1

Dress properly. At the very minimum, anyone entering a temple is required to wear a waist sash. This is a symbolic reminder of the dual character of human nature: the upper body represents goodness and the lower body all that is crude and untamed. The Balinese usually go further in their dress and wear a sarong. At temple festivals men wear a head cloth and extra hip cloth as well, while women wear a kebaya jacket and flowers in their hair. The Balinese are pleased and appreciative when visitors make the effort to wear full traditional dress at their ceremonies.

2

Observe the customary taboos. Among the Balinese it is forbidden to enter a temple if one is menstruating, recently bereaved, or has given birth within the last 42 days. Nor should you bring meat into a temple, in observance of the blood taboo.

3

Don’t climb on temple walls or shrines. Only priests and other specially initiated people may climb on shrines. No one would climb up a wall, not even for a good shot.

4

Don’t stand in front of people praying or anywhere near a priest while he is performing his rituals. This has to do with the sacred nature of the head. Because people sit on the ground to pray, you must be careful to keep your hips away from people’s heads. And of course you do not want to be in the way of people’s prayers, which are being sent in a certain direction.

5

Honeymooners and lovers should be aware that in Bali showing affection in public is considered rude, and disrespectful in temples.

A good tourist is a considerate guest. Your Balinese hosts will be grateful for your courtesy.