Bali has been called Asia’s last paradise, but few visitors have access to the
hidden knowledge that lies beneath island’s landscape of natural beauty,
enchanting dances, and eye-catching art. Saraswati in Bali gives readers an
inside view of life in the village of Peliatan by examining the influence of the
Hindu goddess Saraswati on a sacred temple festival and a nearby museum.
The Pura Madya temple festival coincides with the day set aside to honor
Saraswati, and the meaning of each ceremonial event, from the colorful street
processions to the philosophical banter of the clowns, can be traced back to
palm-leaf manuscripts dedicated to Saraswati, parts of which appear here in
English for the first time. Saraswati’s teachings also provide inspiration for the
paintings, performances, and rituals on display daily at the ARMA Museum. The
relationship between these two community institutions offers new insight into how
the Balinese reinvigorate their traditions by adapting to the global realities of life
on one of the world’s most famous tourist destinations.
The book’s collage of visual and verbal images offer fresh perspectives on the
ways in which the Balinese have used Saraswati’s legacy to insure the survival of
their unique cultural identity.
Dr. I Made Bandem, the former director of the Indonesian Institute of the Arts,
writes that Saraswati in Bali “is essential for understanding Balinese culture.”
The book’s author, Ron Jenkins is a former Guggenheim Fellow who has been
investigating and writing about Balinese culture for over three decades with the
support of the Institute for Intercultural Studies, The Asian Cultural Council, and a
Senior Fulbright Research Grant. Jenkins holds a doctorate from Harvard
University and a master degree in buffoonery from the Ringling Brothers College
for Clowns