Jalan Majapahit: Banjar Pelasa Kuta

Jl. Majapahit has a very impressive banjar pavilion. The banjar is the community organization that organizes religious events, blocks the street for ceremonies and deals with land sales, among other things.

All Balinese married men become part of the banjar and have certain resposibilities, including coming up with the cash for ceremonies, a huge stress. Failure to show up for ceremonies, banjar meetings witholding money can get a man expelled from the banjar. This is extremely serious. Last Nyepi day a group of banjar people attacked a housing area, because its residents wanted to split with and join another banjar.

Banjar Pelasa Kuta had spectacular carvings on the outside of their place. Maybe Barrie can enlighten us as to the significance of those. Banjar Kuta is very powerful and carries more weigh than the cops. Often in the evenings I hear gamelan practice on lower Jl. Legian from the banjar pavillion located there. A wonderful atmosphere.