Canang Sari — Daily Offerings
The small, artful bowls made of palm leaf, filled with flowers, rice, incense sticks, and sweets, found everywhere in Bali on sidewalks, thresholds, altars, motorcycles, and even computer keyboards — these are Canang Sari, the daily offerings.
Every Balinese woman makes several dozen of them each morning and distributes them at the most important places in the house, temple, and business. Making each one takes only a few minutes, but the symbolism is profound:
- The palm leaf bowl (canang) symbolizes the cosmos
- White flowers (east) — Iswara, the god of wisdom
- Red flowers (south) — Brahma, the creator god
- Yellow flowers (west) — Mahadeva, the god of strength
- Blue/green flowers (north) — Vishnu, the preserver
- Rice — nourishment and gratitude
- Incense sticks — the connection to the divine
Canang Sari on the ground are intended for Bhuta Kala (demons, lower spirits) — offerings to keep evil at bay. Those on elevated shrines are for the gods and ancestors.
Achtung
Never intentionally step on a Canang Sari! Even if it lies on the sidewalk and already looks trampled — for Balinese, this is disrespectful to the gods. Try to walk around the offerings.