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Hinduism in Indonesia |
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Balinese Hinduism (Indonesian: Hinduisme Bali; Balinese: ᬳᬶᬦ᭄ᬤᬸᬯᬶᬲ᭄ᬫᬾᬩᬮᬶ, Hindusmé Bali), also known in Indonesia as Agama Hindu Dharma, Agama Tirtha, Agama Air Suci or Agama Hindu Bali, is the form of Hinduism practised by the majority of the population of Bali.[1][2][3] This is particularly associated with the Balinese people residing on the island, and represents a distinct form of Hindu worship incorporating local animism, ancestor worship or Pitru Paksha, and reverence for Buddhist saints or Bodhisattava.
The population of Indonesian islands is predominantly Muslim (87%).[4] The island of Bali is an exception where about 87% of its people identify as Hindu (about 1.7% of the total Indonesian population).[4]
The 1945 Constitution of Indonesia guarantees freedom of religion to all citizens.[5] In 1952, states Michel Picard, an anthropologist and scholar of Balinese history and religion, the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs came under the control of conservatives who severely constrained an acceptable definition of a "religion".[5] To be acceptable as an official Indonesian religion, the past ministry defined "religion" as one that is monotheistic, has codified religious law and added several requirements.[5][1]
Further, Indonesia denied rights of citizenship (such as the right to vote) to anyone not belonging to an officially recognized religion.[1] As such, Balinese Hinduism has been formally recognized by the Indonesian government as one of the official religions practised in Bali.[1][5]
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