Republic of Bali

The Sri Dharma Bali, or simply, the Republic of Bali, is an island located in Southeast Asia. The island is famous for its white sandy beaches with coconut palms. It is very rich in cultural and various religious traditions. Its capital is Denpasar, sitting on the southern section of the island. It is governed by a  Dharma, or Assembly, and it is an early form of democracy in South East Asia. The seat of the government is the Mahapura, located at the coast of the capital. The Republic of Bali is a client state of the  Sanskrit Empire.

Background
Bali was inhabited sometime around the time 2000 BC by Austronesian people, migrating from  around Southeast Asia and/or Oceania. The people of Bali are, without doubt, closely related to the people of the Sanskrit Empire. While the dominant religion is Hindu (nearly four-fifth of the population), people with different religious beliefs are welcome in the island so long as they respect the traditions and cultural sites of Hinduism.



The 100% dank temple of Pura Luhur Batukaru.

History
The people of Bali had been under frequent raid of sailing tribes since around 100 BC, and has since formed their own military, the Maharakshaka to defend coastal areas from invaders. In the year 33 BC it agreed to be pay periodical tribute to the larger Sanskrit Empire in exchange for protection and access to a more enlightened naval units, like galleys. The Assembly of Bali eventually agreed to be a client state of the Sanskrit Empire, but retain semi-independence.

Culture
The culture of Bali is strongly influenced by countries such as India and China, especially when it comes to their Hindu culture. Hinduism, being the world’s oldest religions has very complex roots, particularly dating back from the civilization of the Indus River. People living in these civilizations moved to the region of India, and combined with local culture blended to form practices of fire sacrifices, hymns and poetry. From India it migrated further to southeast Asia, and eventually reaching the island of Bali.

The life of people in Bali mostly rotates around ceremonies, traditional dancing, religious offerings, puppetry and these involve temples. Hindus in Bali follow a strict routinity of praying and preserving their culture. There used to be a caste system in Bali, but was eventually overthrown when the government Assembly was formed. Non-hindus live a more easygoing life, with less obligations and responsibilities. but nonetheless find these traditions fascinating.