Balinese treat the many unseen inhabitants or the island—gods, ancestors and even evil spirits—through the presentation of offerings as an expression of gratitude to benevolent spirits, and placating mischievous demons to prevent them from disturbing the harmony of life. Beings gifts to higher beings, these offering must be attractive; and a great deal of time and effort is expended to make them so. To make them look even more stunning, the offerings are arranged on a beautiful, wooden dulang.
Dulang (literally means royal plate) is carried to the ceremony in a procession on top of the women’s heads to signify the highest offering above the human level – suitable for the gods. Also, when it is placed on the altar or a table, the dulang (along with the offerings it contains) must be put above all others items. In many ways, therefore, the production of dulang is regarded as an important traditional art form that still flourishes in Bali. Of course, being born artists, it’s certainly not a big deal for the Balinese people to create the skillfully crafted dulang.
Due to its attractiveness, many commercial venues that are constructed following traditional architectural principals use dulang to add a character to their interior designs to represent a style considered truly Balinese.
