This beautiful Art Deco statue of a praying woman was probably made in the 1950s. She’s depicted in the typical Balinese prayer position with both hands on the forehead and a frangipani flower between the fingertips.

Sacrifice is an important activity in Bali. It starts early in the morning when women make small offerings in front of their homes to please the gods. This continues throughout the day.

The prayer in the form of a flower greeting is called Sembahyang. This word consists of two parts: sembah (bow, prayer gesture) and hyang (the one who is revered). The prayer consists of a mantra and is directed to Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa, the supreme being in Balinese Hinduism.

Read more about Balinese flower offerings in my Canang Sari post.