Most of Indonesia is Muslim, the most populous Muslim majority country in the world. But Bali is home to Indonesia’s Hindus, about 85% of the island’s population. Balinese Hinduism is a distinct expression of the religion, incorporating elements of Buddhism, animism and ancestor worship as well as the Hindu pantheon.
Ganesh has always been a favorite of mine and on my walks around Ubud I’d see his figure done large in gardens, his image on t-shirts, decorating restaurants and his name is also the name of my favorite bookstore there. These are two I saw along my way, the first decked out in festival finery, the second slowly becoming part of the vegetation that surrounded him. How can one not love Lord Ganesh, god of knowledge and remover of obstacles.
