The Banjar The banjar is a village council, the family extention of the house and family. Each village is divided into one or more banjar, a cooperative association who assist each other in the preparation of costly events. Each banjar swear separate allegiances to certain temples. Every adult belong to a banjar, each household pays a subscription fee to its banjar. When a man marries, membership is a compulsory. Some banjar obligation may be considered even more important than family ties. Each members exists less as an individual than as one thread in the social fabric of the banjar. The banjar serves simultaneously as town council, tribunal, department of public works and welfare, and department of environment and sanitation. It's a cross between a masonic lodge, a town planning commitee, and a church congreagation. It galvanizes the community to prepare for and participate in major feasts, rites and dance performances, it votes in a democratic manner on road and temple construction, lays us beneath the ground. Meeting done in balai banjar, the meeting hall. Summoned by the beating of wooden drum, attendance of all household heads is required at regular evening meetings, absentees are fined. Since all decisions must be unanimous, new ideas take a long time to gain acceptance, in the meantime discussions proceed peacefully. The banjar is a community of equals, before the banjar all castes are equal. The leader of the banjar is elected by its members and mostly unpaid. |