Hashing in Bali under the watchful eye of Dewi Sri, Goddess of Rice
by 69er
Here on the Island of Bali in Indonesia we have the run of a landscape that we think of as a hashing paradise. A lush tropical environment laced with paths and rough trails through jungle and rice terraces, mountains and beaches, open fields and villages. An exuberant and vibrant culture is on display whenever and wherever we go.
It’s little wonder then that the Bali Hash House Harriers is growing in popularity. In such a setting it comes as no surprise that a new kennel is established every few years to cope with increasing numbers of “runners with a drinking problem”.
All this grew out of a desire, or perhaps rather the need, for Victor “Nightjar” Mason to carry on hashing after relocating to the Isle of the Gods well over 40 years ago. On May 16, 1977 he got the first Bali Hash House Harriers up and running from their bar stools at The Beggar’s Bush in Ubud.
Stronger today than ever, this mismanaged group draws inspiration from an illustrious history, thanks in large part to the efforts of “Nightjar”. Securing the highly acclaimed 1988 InterHash for Bali, hundreds came to participate in this jamboree. Like many another Hash kennel, the Bali HHH is represented by a logo, and once again the man responsible for its evolution was “Nightjar”.
Running or walking through the stunningly beautiful Balinese landscape, in the rice fields one often comes across a representation of Dewi Sri, the Goddess of Rice. Rice, and rituals surrounding its production, occupy a major part of the time, energy and money of the Balinese and no deity in Hindu Bali’s pantheon is more loved nor fervently worshipped than Dewi Sri.
She is represented by a female figure made from 54 rice stalks tied together at the waist so the stalks below the pinched centre form a conical skirt, those above form a triangular face. This double triangle, like an hour-glass figure, is called Cili (and pronounced like “chilli”). It is the symbol of Bali, repeated endlessly in offerings, paintings, statues, carvings, woven, and hammered into metals. Signifying rice, Cili is symbolic of life itself.
It should come as no real surprise that a stylised form of Cili running (naked?) and with the letters BHHH inscribed on it was devised by “Nightjar” as the much loved logo of the Bali Hash House Harriers.
Our website, information sheets, shirts and shorts commonly have this symbol on them. Let’s hope Cili and all the Gods of Bali continue to look after us as we traverse the fields, climb the hills and scramble down the ravines during our runs on The Isle of the Gods.
Om çanti çanti çanti om! 👣