VILLAGE AND BANJARVillages in Bali are mainly based on the location unities. Half of its territory belongs to the villagers as an individual, and the other half is the area under the village supervision right, or concretely under the supervision of the village’s leader. The villages in the mountain range usually have a centered pattern of settlement, whereas the villages that have ‘banjar’ (a traditional institution) system and villages in the plain area have a dispersed pattern of settlement.
Besides as a territory unit, a village is also a religious unit that is determined by a village temples complex called Kahyangan Tiga comprising Pura Puseh, Pura Bale Agung and Pura Dalem. Sometimes Pura Puseh and Pura Bale Agung are combined into one and called as Pura Desa.
As explained before, the points of direction concept has a very important meaning in the religion of the Balinese. The sacred things are positioned towards the mountain direction (kaja), and the ordinary things that are unsacred placed to the sea direction (kelod). This dualism classification is reflected in the site arrangement of the house and the center building of the village. These buildings must be built in accordance with the points of direction concept. For instance in the mountain direction is placed Pura Desa, and in the sea direction is the site for Pura Dalem (a temple related to cemetery and death).
In the area that has a ‘banjar’ system exists a ‘bale banjar’ building, a place for the villagers to hold a meeting and other activities, surrounded by the housing of the banjar members. The building complex that is occupied by a nucleus or extended family is built on a yard, usually surrounded by a wall with a narrow splitting gate. This complex consists of bedroom, one or more kitchen, lumbung (rice barn), living room, and a family shrine (sanggah). The complex as a whole is called uma. The sites of the bale, sanggah, etc., are generally arranged in accordance with a certain pattern. The family shrine is considered to be sacred and located in the kaja direction. The housing area is located in the kelod direction. Each bale (building) has a certain name based on its function in customs or daily needs.
The Banjar is a social unit based on territory unity. This social unity is strengthened by custom unity and sacred religious ceremonies. In the mountain range area, the characteristic of banjar membership is limited only to those who were born in the banjar territory. Whereas in the plain area the banjar membership is open to the public and not limited only to those who were born in this area. The people from other places and happened to stay in the banjar are welcomed to join the banjar if they want to. The center of banjar is ‘bale banjar’ (‘banjar’ hall), where the members of the banjar usually meet on a certain day. Banjar is led by a ‘kelian banjar’. The banjar members elect him as the leader of the banjar for a certain period of duty. His duty is not only related with all the social life of the banjar as a community, but also the religious life. Besides that he also has to solve the custom problems. Sometimes kelian banjar also deals with the things that are related to governmental administration.
Source: PemProp Bali
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