INTAN PERMATA SARI

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BANKING FINANCE 2

RELIGIOUS HERITAGE

Religious Heritage of Subak System in Bali

Most of the image of the outside world of Indonesia is based on Bali, which is a major
tourist destination. Because the people of Bali have a strong culture where there is a
heritage that is influenced by religion or called "religious heritage". One of them is water
system with Subak system. What is Subak? Subak is a water management system for rice
paddies on the island of Bali developed long ago. For Balinese, irrigation not only
provides water for plant roots, but water is also used to create complex ecosystems.
Subak system has unique characteristics when compared with other traditional systems,
which always have a temple, like Pura Uluncarik or Pura Bedugul specially built by
farmers to worship God. The existence of this temple as an expression of gratitude and
gratitude to the farmers who devoted to worship Dewi Sri as a goddess of prosperity and
fertility.

Subak system follows the concept of Tri Hita Karana philosophy which has the meaning
of "Three causes of happiness" which is based on the harmony of a relationship between
human and God, human with a natural environment, and human with others. The results
of good and abundant crops, especially rice crops which are the staple food, by the
Balinese people is seen as a gift of God. Therefore, the community works together to
manage and control the water properly in order to support the rice crops. They do their
hard work conquering the challenges on the island with the volcano with the involvement
of the natural environment, between humans and God to sustain life. This is the
philosophy they have done long ago.

Subak is not just an agricultural irrigation system, but it is a life philosophy for Balinese
people which is a harmonious relationship between the individual and the spirit world,
the human world, and nature. Subak aims to maintain a harmonious relationship between
nature and spirituality. A number of celebration rituals, offerings and art performances
that portray the harmonization of Tri Hita Karana philosophy. Any problems with water
are discussed together, starting from the fair distribution of water up to the time of
planting and the type of plant (padi). If there is a violation, then sanctions will be
determined by the residents themselves through a ceremony performed in places of
worship. Harmonization of life that will be the key to preserve Subak culture. And this is
what makes Subak system established as a world heritage by UNESCO.
In my opinion, Subak system is one of the cultural heritages of Indonesian society in the
form of social institutions, which we must preserve. Because, Subak system is not just a
water distribution or irrigation, but there is also an organization that regulates this water
distribution. Also, my suggestion to the public and the government is to have a full
awareness of the importance of this Subak existence, that is by making all efforts to
preserve Subak such as restricting land use, strengthening or empowering Subak
institutions, and also facilitating the development of Subak.