Recognize the Traditional Villages of Bali Aga in Bali

Bali is not only famous for its landscape but culture and architecture. Bali as one of the national and international tourism destinations has traditional villages with its own uniqueness and specificity. Call it one of them Penglipuran Village, famous for the appearance of the entrance facade of each yard with a similar shape, beautiful atmosphere, clean, and a linear village pattern. The village of Tenganan with its unique pandanus war culture that is held every year and this is the main destination of travelers and photographers to capture the moment of the pandanus war. Trunyan Village with its unique burial system, ‘primitive sky-burial” Reuter (2002) put it this way. This burial system is the only one in Bali, the bodies are not buried or burned, but only placed on the ground and protected by a triangle of bamboo (ancak-saji) to avoid animal disturbance. The traditional villages which are original and still carry out the original Balinese tradition are called Bali Aga. The purpose of this original Balinese tradition is a tradition that did not get the influence of culture during the Majapahit Kingdom, while those who gained influence and implemented it so far are called Apanaga Village.

What is Bali Aga Village?

Research on Bali Aga villages has been carried out by both foreign and local researchers. The villages in Bali are divided into two categories, namely traditional villages or traditional villages, and official villages. Indigenous villages are associated with a group of traditional communities in rural areas that are bound by traditional, cultural rules and bound to the Kahyangan Tiga Temple (Pitana, 1994, Setiada, 2003). Village offices relate to administration under the jurisdiction of the village or village. Village offices emphasize the village's obligation to implement national development programs (Sueca, 2003). The Public Works Department (1989) divided traditional villages into three, namely old villages (Bali Aga villages), apanaga villages, and new villages. Bali Aga village is also called "the mountain Balinese" by Reuter (2002) or mountain villages. Another name is the Old Balinese village which is 'the original' and Bali Mula is the 'ancient Balinese' (Covarrubias, 1974; Reuter, 2002). The word ‘aga’ or arga’ comes from Javanese which means mountains (Public Works Department, 1989). Apanaga / Apanase villages tend to be located on the mainland especially the southern part of the island of Bali. This type of apanaga village was influenced by the royal era, Majapahit. Apanaga village is also bound by Kahyangan Tiga where the village is headed by a village head or bendesa. While the new village was established because it was related to community migration for a better livelihood.

What is the difference between Bali Aga Village and Apanaga Village?

 The basic differences between Bali Aga and Apanaga villages were formulated by the Public Works Department (1989), then confirmed by Dwijendra (2009) as follows. Bali Aga villages have village patterns and linear settlement patterns with upstream (kaja) towards the mountains or hills, while downstream (kelod) towards the sea or springs such as lakes. In spatial space applying the concept of Tri Loka / Tri Bhuana namely Bhur, Bwah, and Swah to show human relationships to God (Bhur), to others (Bwah), and the environment (spirits) (Swah). Most of the traditional houses are called tampul roras or saka roras where the building has twelve pillars. In customary government adheres to the ulu apad or hulu ampad (elders system) system, where the oldest is believed to lead the adat. The burial system does not burn the body, but only the symbol is burned, the body is only buried. This system is called biye tanam. The community has a dominant livelihood as a farmer. The kinship system is a nuclear family (batih). In marriage, there is a prohibition to get married in the family or there are blood relations. In some villages, mass marriages were held, such as in Pengotan Village and Landih Village. The local language (Balinese) used has its own dialect in each village, but has no level (sor-singgih). Bali Aga villages do not adopt a caste system. In carrying out the annual ceremony called Ngusaba as an expression of gratitude for the fertility that has been awarded. On the eve of the Ngusaba ceremony, several villages carried out their own traditions such as the pandanus war in Tenganan Village, Barong Brutuk in Trunyan Village. There are two Nyepi festivals in Bali Aga village, namely Nyepi Religion which is held at Sasih Kesanga, and Nyepi Adat which is carried out in connection with the implementation of Ngusaba Desa. Bali Aga villages maintain their environment quite tightly as Tenganan Village only allows logging in the forest only to build traditional bale (bale buga) for newly married couples.

Apanaga Village are villages located in mainland areas, especially in South Bali, which has cultural influences from the Majapahit Kingdom. This is confirmed by Lansing (1983) by quoting Korn (1932) that the village of Apanaga has a close relationship with Majapahit as in the following quote.

Korn termed the majority type of village of the wong Maospahit “apanaga” emphasizing their subordinate relationship to the Indigenous aristocratic courts of pre-colonial Bali.

Apanaga Village uses the conception of the Tri Mandala (utama, madya, nista) for the placement of the function of the holy place, and this also relates to Tri Bhuana (Bhur, Bwah, and Swah). The livelihoods of the population are more varied ranging from farmers, fishermen as well as trade and services. Apanaga village adopts the Catur Wangsa kinship system (four types of obligations/responsibilities) namely Brahma (priest), Kesatria (leader), Wesia (merchant), and Jaba (for common people). The system of government organization is led by customary objects or customary practices with a democratic system. The marriage system varies as it adheres to the nyeburin system, where girls can and often become successors through uxorilocal / matrilocal marriages (Reuter, 2002). The language system recognizes levels (sor singgih), more people adhere to Hinduism but there are also Buddhists. The death ceremony with the cremation system is by burning a corpse. Apanaga village celebrates Galungan and Kuningan, and Nyepi at Sasih Kesanga.

Which villages are included in Bali Aga in Bali?

 An inventory of Bali Aga villages carried out by the Bali Provincial Public Works Office (1989) recorded 38 Bali Aga villages spread across seven districts in Bali. Carole Muller in her 1980s research in four regions documented 25 Bali Aga villages (Muller, 2011). Based on this and supported by studies of other research sources, Yudantini (2015) concluded there were 62 Bali Aga villages spread across seven districts in the Province of Bali. In Karangasem Regency there are 12 Bali Aga villages, Buleleng Regency has 14 villages, Bangli Regency has 26 villages, 3 villages in Gianyar Regency, 2 villages in Klungkung Regency, 2 villages in Badung Regency, and 3 villages in Tabanan Regency. The Bali Aga villages include (Yudantini, 2020):

1. Karangasem Regency: Bungaya, Asak, Timbrah, Tenganan, Bugbug, Ngis, Kesimpar, Sibetan, Ababi, Seraya, Perasi, and Padang Kerta.

2. Buleleng Regency: Sidatapa, Tigawasa, Pedawa, Cempaga, Banyuseri, Gobleg, Julah, Sembiran, Sudaji, Les, Penuktukan, Sambirenteng, Pacung 1 & Pacung 2, and Bulian.

3. Bangli Regency: Bayung Gede, Pengotan, Kayubihi, Penglipuran, Kedisan, Songan A, Songan B, Satra, Pengiangan, Yangapi, Sukawana, Sukawana, Trunyan, Buahan, Landih, Sekardadi, Puakan, Catur, Belantih, Blandingan, Abangbatudinding, Pinggan, North Batur, South Batur, Central Batur, Kintamani, and Suter.

4. Gianyar Regency: Taro, Sebatu, and Camenggawon / Celuk.

5. Klungkung Regency: Tihingan, and Nyalian

6. Badung Regency: Sulangai, and Pelaga

7. Tabanan Regency: Tengkudak, Wongaya Gede, and Jatiluwih.