The cultural heritage of Bali spans from its vibrant temples to the many time-honored rituals that have been passed down for centuries.

One such ritual is Odalan, celebrated in temples like Pura Besakih, one of the most sacred temples on the island. It marks the day of creation, honoring the gods and ancestors who have made Bali what it is today. During Odalan, the Hindu village community comes together and invites the gods to visit them for three or more days, performing religious services and offerings, as well as providing entertainment.

This periodic event celebrates Balinese Hindu heritage and performance arts, as well as marking the founding of particular Hindu temples. Since Bali has thousands of Hindu temples, Odalan is celebrated in some part of Bali almost every day. These rituals have been integral to Balinese life and have kept its culture alive for so long — rituals that are at risk of disappearing forever.

A confluence of factors has put the Balinese culture in a precarious position. With poverty levels higher than the national average, cultural keepers (such as local artisans and traditional performers) are often unable to earn a living wage from their cultural work, leading to a lack of incentive for younger generations to carry on their ancestral customs.

This is why Quantum Temple, the Web3 platform preserving cultural heritage, is aiming to offer a new incentive model to support these ancestral communities and ensure their traditions don’t disappear.

By purchasing one of Quantum Temple’s NFTs — whether it’s a Cultural Heritage NFT, Cultural Artifact NFT or Cultural Experience NFT — collectors are able to directly contribute to the communities that are preserving Bali’s vibrant cultural heritage. Let’s take a look at some of the NFTs that are part of the Genesis Collection based on Balinese heritage that are being released.

Cultural Heritage NFTs in Bali

Quantum Temple’s Genesis Collection will feature nine Cultural Heritage NFTs based on Balinese heritage. The first of these is the Chandrawasih, a dance of the Bird of Paradise. This ritual comes from Legong, a refined classical dance in Bali, and is based on the courtship rituals of Cendrawasih birds. While these birds are not native to Bali, they play an important role in Balinese mythology and beliefs about the afterlife. The video content and description have been curated by Professor Steve Lansing, a leading cultural anthropologist.

These birds are also known as manuk dewata, or birds of the gods. The dance is performed by two expert female dancers, who move in a unique and captivating way that mirrors the appearance of the manuk dewata. In the 1920s, I Gde Manik created the first Cendrawasih dance, and it was later choreographed by Swasthi Wijaya Bandem in 1988.

Now, with the help of Professor Steve Lansing’s research and Quantum Temple’s NFT minting, the Chandrawasih dance will be preserved for posterity on the Ethereum and Algorand blockchains. Professor Lansing’s curatorial description will be placed in the metadata to guarantee the authenticity of the NFT media content on-chain. NFT proceeds will be directly impact the Legong Dance school represented in the NFT.

Cultural Artifact NFTs from Bali

In addition to Cultural Heritage NFTs, Quantum Temple also offers Cultural Artifact NFTs from Bali. These are ultra-limited heritage artifacts handmade by master craftsmen.

One example is the Genta, a ceremonial bell forged by the Pandes, a clan of master blacksmiths that traces back to the 15th century. It takes over 70 hours to craft and can only begin on auspicious days in the Balinese calendar. The Genta is made from Pañcadhātu, an alloy of gold, silver, copper, zinc and iron that is believed to bring balance and peace.

Cultural Experience NFTs from Bali

Finally, Quantum Temple offers Cultural Experience NFTs from Bali. These are access passes that enable direct visits with culture keepers and live curated experiences deeply connecting with their rituals and traditions.

By purchasing one of these experience passes, you will be able to immerse yourself in a facet of Balinese culture — from its beautiful temples to its vibrant art forms and rituals — and gain insight into what makes Bali such a magical place.

A Thank You to Impact Fund Contributors

Our Impact Fund will help preserve Bali’s culture and ensure that its keepers are able to earn an equitable wage. We are deeply grateful to the members of our Cosmic Egg community who have contributed to this fund. Your support will help us protect the lineages, knowledge, traditions, and art forms of ancestral communities and ensure they are preserved for posterity.

Through the 50% of its value that is automatically deposited to the Impact Fund, your Cosmic Egg membership NFTs will provide culture keepers with an equitable, sustainable incentive to preserve their heritage.

As we launch our NFTs, we invite you to come along on this journey with us — to connect with Bali’s cultural heritage, bond with its culture keepers, and join a global community of Web3 philanthropists, culture patrons, and travellers committed to protecting cultural heritage around the world.