A Balinese ‘Call to Prayer’: Sounding Religious Nationalism and Local Identity in the Puja Tri Sandhya

This article examines the Puja Tri Sandhya, a Balinese Hindu prayer that has been broadcast into soundscape of Bali since 2001. By charting development prayer, this paper summarizes religious politics post-independence Indonesia, which called for to adopt Sandhya as condition legitimacy in new nation. The is likened “call prayer” and compared Muslim Christian soundings religion archipelago assert how these broadcasts sonically reify national motto, Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (“Unity Diversity”), participate sounding nationalism. Although are evidence state-sponsored form religiosity, interviews concerning degree individuals practice point an element secularism position example challenges versus dichotomy studies also sonic components (when it sounded, vocal style, gender wayang genta bell accompaniment), argue elements infuse invented display religiosity with authority facilitate mediation between technology, space, local identity. Exploration accompaniment particular, further confirms contrived nature demonstrates technologies used have had significant impact on musical tradition.