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Rice, the Gift of Dewi Sri
Soul food, the life force and
the rice revolution
Dewi
Sri, the Rice Goddess who personifies the life force, is undoubtedly
the most worshipped deity in Bali. The symbol representing Dewi
Sri is seen time and again: an hour-glass figure often made from
rice stalks, woven from coconut leaves, engraved or painted onto
wood, made out of old Chinese coins, or hammered out of metal.
Shrines made of bamboo or stone honouring Dewi Sri are erected
in every rice field.
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Recently introduced rice varieties
dictate that threshing takes place in the field.
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Rice
cultivation determines the rhythm of village between men and women.
Every stage of the rice cycle is accompanied by age-old rituals.
The dry sea-son, from April to October, makes irrigation esential
for the two annual crops. An elaborate system channelling water
from lakes, rivers and springs across countless paddies is controlled
by irrigation cooperatives known as subak. Consisting
of all the landowners of a particular district, the subak
is responsible not only for the construction and maintenance of
canals, aqueducts and dams and the distribution of water, hut
also coordinates the planting and organises ritual offerings and
festivals. The subak system is extremely efficient
and computer studies have found that, for Bali, its methods cannot
be further improved.
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