You can see a ceremony performed almost every day across the island of Bali, from smaller household ceremonies to village celebrations that involve the entire community. Ceremonies fall on special and auspicious days based on the 210-day calendar called the pawukon. The visual diagram of the calendar, the tika, is a system that identifies complex cycles and sub-cycles that tell you what kind of time it is, not what time it is. These cycles reflect patterns of growth in nature and social patterns. Large cycles encompass smaller cycles that reflect social and natural order. For example, the tika charts the entire cultivation cycle of rice, known as the subak cycle, including the entire water cycle, such as when the rains come. The calendar tells the farmers when to plant rice and when to have ceremonies to celebrate the cycle. Another example pertains to the physical and spiritual growth cycle of a child. The tika marks the special days in a child's life, such as holding a ceremony on the 42nd day to remove impurities from the child and mother, and holding a ceremony on day 105 to protect the child from evil. After the first year (210 days), the child can finally touch the ground for the first time and there is a ceremony to mark this occasion. Tooth-filing is another very important day of ceremony. At the time of puberty, the child's canine teeth are filed by a highly respected member of the community, usually a Brahmana, to ensure that at death the soul would not be confused with an evil, wild creature. One of the most auspicious cycles is the lunar cycle and the Balinese celebrate the new moon (tilem) and the full moon (purnama) The Balinese also have a luni-solar calendar, the saka, to keep track of linear time. Priests consult the tika to determine what kind of ceremony to hold.

During a ceremony, there are various processions of offerings (left). Women carry the offerings on their heads to the temple, where offerings are given to the gods. The gebogan (right) are offerings carried on the heads of balinese women. They are made with layers of cakes, flowers and fruits. Offerings are also given in large baskets for bigger ceremonies. Balinese ceremonies can also involve ritual sacrifices, from a small bird or chick to larger animals, such as pigs and cows. These purification ceremonies or caru are incredible spectacles.

Processions also include traditional music of drums and gongs. As part of the community duty, all members of the community must participate in the ceremony and all members have roles and a purpose. Even the youngest children find their place amongst their elders. There are large ceremonies for weddings, but the most important ceremony is a cremation ceremony which marks a transition for the soul to reincarnate into another body. The ceremony is a time of celebration, not sorrow, because the families are happy to know the soul of their loved ones will travel onwards to a better life.

Ceremonies involves various purification rites, rituals and blessings for all those involved from the community. The high priest, typically a Brahmana priest or pedanda, (left) chants mantras and forms sacred mudras with his hands. His most important role is the dispersing of tirta or holy water using a wand. The Balinese religion was formally known as Agama Tirtra, Religion of Holy water. The pedanda is often accompanied by his wife, who is of equal rank. A ceremony would not be complete without the ceremonial foods that are prepared with traditional Balinese spices, rice and a variety of meats. Suckling pig (babi guling) is the favourite choice! Visitors are invited to participate in the ceremonies and receive blessings from the pedanda.