PHOTO ESSAY // Rivers Two Ways
The Sacred Waterways of Bali
Photo essay by Tyler Blodgett
EXCERPT //
From four sacred volcanic mountains on the island of Bali in Indonesia, water spills into rivers that are managed with a cooperative irrigation system called subak. After 2,000 years of cultural exchange between Bali and India, the island has developed a unique Hindu-Balinese philosophy called Tri Hita Karana, which emphasizes harmony among humans, nature, and the divine: Subak is a manifestation of their philosophy, and the Balinese consider the mountains the realm of the gods, the rivers the realm of humans, and the ocean the realm of spirits and demons. At sacred water temples (Pura Ulun Danu), priests and farmers coordinate water management, including allocation of the water and irrigation times, and these sites also serve as spiritual centers. Daily purification rituals are part of the practice. Photographer Tyler Blodgett set out to the island to live with a family who participates in this sophisticated ancient system, which is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. //
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