Balinese culture is one of the richest and most varied on the planet, its ancient traditions have for centuries sustained many different kinds of music and dance, theatre and arts, as an integral part of worship and community life.

Due to the Hindu belief in reincarnation, Balinese daily lives are intimately linked with the ancestors. A shadow puppet show is an dramatic analogy for this connection. The flickering shadows of the intricately carved leather puppets are seen as links to spirits from the past, all brought to life by the magic of the "dalang" puppeteer.

Balinese history is deeply intertwined with Hinduism, which was originally adopted from India. This is evident in the oral traditions - puppet shows tell stories from the Ramayana and Mahabarata epics, blended with local myths and legends. Masked dances and traditional dramas combine traditional ethics with contemporary themes, ensuring that the artistic traditions are still applicable in an increasingly modern world. Such performances not only draw worshippers to the thousands of temples around Bali, but also entertain and educate the general public. An integral part of local religious ceremonies, music and dance performances are colourful events. Everything is decorated in a tastefully natural way and artists perform unpaid as a symbol of their devotions to the gamut of ancestral deities in the world of Balinese Hinduism. This is just one of many examples of the tripartite formula of "trihita karana" for peaceful eco-living-man, the environment and the divine
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You are welcome to learn about this fascinating philosophy and experience the arts directly at Sukahet Sari, by trying your hand at playing gamelan music, learning the graceful dance movements, and joining the women in making exquisite palm-leaf decorations.