8 Latest Intangible Cultural Heritage of Bali

Have you ever wondered if there is any intangible cultural heritage of Bali? As the biggest Hinduism living on the island, Bali contains so many beautiful cultures that represent the character of Balinese specifically and Indonesian in common.

Bali is one of the smallest islands in Indonesia that contains local customs and culture that are so different from others islands in Indonesia. That makes this island the most unique of tribes, and so does the culture following them. That makes sense if the island has so much intangible cultural heritage of Bali.

If you are wondering what kind of intangible cultural heritage of Bali has, here we have some of them on the list below. Let’s check them out!

1. Arak Bali

Arak Bali is one of the most popular intangible cultural heritage of Bali that recognized since November 2022. This kind of Balinese spirit is made traditionally that represents the Balinese traditional craft of local people in Bali. It has around 25% up to 45% of alcohol inside, and sometimes locals drink it for health reasons.

Arak Bali is made from fermented Palmyra palm local people call it Lontar or Siwalan. This kind of tree is well known to grow well around tropical countries such as Indonesia. The local farmer will take the water from it and do the process traditionally using a distillation pipe.

2. Uyah Amed

Uyah Amed is one of the most popular intangible cultural heritage of Bali that was already sentenced under the law by the ministry of education, culture, research, and technology in around November 2022. This kind of intangible heritage represents the Balinese traditional craft of making traditional sea salt.

Uyah Amed is popular with the making of sea salt with the traditional technique by Amed’s farmer in the coastal line of Karangasem regency one of the most remote areas in Indonesia. This kind of sea salt is already made over 500 years ago. It used to become a special sea salt serving Karangasem royal kingdom.

3. Jaja Laklak

Jaja Laklak is one of the intangible cultural heritage of Bali that you can find in most of Bali’s traditional markets. This kind of intangible cultural heritage represents the delicious taste of a Balinese traditional snack made with rice flour mixed with palm sugar and shredded coconut.

Jaja Laklak is almost similar to Surabi in Javanese traditional snacks. It’s made by a traditional cook using a clay craft over a brick stove or charcoal. This kind of snack is perfect to consume with a cup of hot tea or coffee for break time.

4. Lontar

Lontar is one of Bali’s most popular intangible cultural heritage that represents Balinese knowledge and behavioral habits regarding nature and the universe. This kind of intangible cultural heritage is already known decades ago in Bali island with Denpasar as the biggest city in Indonesia on it.

Lontar used to be a kind of communications tools between local Balinese around ancient times. Most Lontar in Bali become the real proof of Balinese history from the ancients including the royal kingdom, culture, religion, and many more. This kind of Balinese inscription is commonly written properly over dried Lontar leaves or dried palm leaves.

5. Sate Lilit

Sate Lilit is one of the most popular traditional food in Bali that is recognized as the intangible cultural heritage of Bali in 2022. This kind of food is different from common Indonesian satay. It’s commonly made with beef, chicken, or pork.

Sate Lilit is made with some ingredients such as meat, big red chili, pepper, shredded coconut, coconut milk, shallots, onion, and lime juice. It uses lemongrass to screw the meat before it is grilled over the hot charcoal. The taste is pretty delicious, which you can hardly find in another country but in Indonesia.

6. Berko

Berko is one of the most popular intangible cultural heritage of Bali that represents the art performance of the traditional musical instrument in Bali. It is a kind of traditional musical instrument that is played using bamboo that arranged with similar Balinese music traditional such as Gamelan.

Berko commonly plays by a group of men and is followed by the local dancer that wears Balinese traditional clothes made from Indonesian traditional textiles. Local Balinese believe that Berko is used well-known since around 1925. It used to only perform for the royal kingdom only or for some important events for the government.

7. Serombotan

Serombotan is one of the most popular traditional food from Bali that has lately been recognized as the intangible cultural heritage of Bali. This kind of traditional food contains many vegetables such as spinach, long bean, sprouts, and bitter gourd that are boiled properly.

All of those ingredients are mixed properly with shredded coconut and then poured with peanut sauce which is different from some Indonesian Ramadan dishes. It has a delicious taste and is so nutritious to consume. The government decide this intangible cultural heritage as the traditional craft skills presented by Balinese people.

8. Karya Ida Bhatara Sakti Ngerta Gumi’s Pemijilan

Karya Ida Bhatara Sakti Ngerta Gumi’s Pemijilan is one of the most popular traditions in Balinese culture that has lately been recognized as one of the intangible cultural heritage of Bali. It’s a kind of festival that is held once in ten years, which represents Balinese gratitude for their gods.

Karya Ida Bhatara Sakti Ngerta Gumi’s Pemijilan has the most sacred ritual value for most local Balinese. People would gather in most temples in Bali to have a prayer, and others will do a parade almost 600 meters long. The street of the parade would be filled with rice to avoid bad things in the year ahead.

So, there is the intangible cultural heritage of Bali that you can find in most Balinese cultures and environments. Have you ever found them all? Tell us which one that becomes your favorite so far.