TRUNYAN, INDONESIA, April 26, 2009: The small population of Trunyan island claims to be descendants of the original Balinese, or Bali Aga. They follow a form of Hinduism that pre-dates the influence of the powerful Majapahit empire that ruled neighboring Java for 200 years from the late 13th century.
Although Bali has developed rapidly as a tourist destination, the isolated village of Trunyan maintains an unusual tradition: Their dead are not cremated or buried, but instead are respectfully laid out under a sacred banyan tree.
Until an asphalt road reached the village in 2006, it was accessible only by boat. Traditions forgotten or modified in other parts of Bali are still honored here. “All our traditions and ritual practices are inherited from our ancestors,” said I Ketut Jaksa, a deputy to the village chief.
An ancient fig tree in the center of Trunyan’s cemetery is considered the sacred incarnation of a Hindu goddess who descended from the sky and married a Javanese prince.
The new road has brought the inevitable tourists. While their business is welcome, the community remains committed to preserving the ancient rites and rituals. “Any violation, no matter how small it is, will cause a fatal impact for all of us here in the village,” Jaksa said.