If you've ever walked through Bali, chances are you've noticed a black-and-white checkered cloth wrapped around ancient trees, temple gates, or guardian statues.

Known as Poleng, it is far more than a decorative fabric seen in ceremonies. Behind its familiar pattern lies one of Bali's most enduring philosophies—a reminder that harmony is found not in choosing one side over another, but in embracing both. Behind the simplicity of its geometric pattern lies a visual representation of the Balinese way of life in maintaining universal equilibrium.

For the Balinese people, the Poleng cloth is a visual expression of Rwa Bhineda, a philosophy that teaches how seemingly opposing forces coexist to create balance. It is a perspective that continues to shape daily life, sacred traditions, and the way people relate to nature, one another, and the world around them.

The Visual Manifestation of Tradition and Belief

At first glance, Poleng may seem like a simple black-and-white checkered cloth. Yet across Bali, it quietlt marks spaces regarded as sacred and worthy of respect.

It can be found wrapped around temples shrines, guardian statues, ancient trees, and ceremonial structures, quietly signaling that these places hold a presence beyond what is immediately seen than mere decorative pieces.

Rather than separating the sacred from everyday life, Poleng gently reminds us that spirituality is woven into the landscapes and communities of Bali. This practice is rooted in the awareness that every living thing and every place carries its own presence—whether material or immaterial.

Devotees gathered in front of a sacred altar wrapped in Poleng cloth, marking the boundary of a sanctified space.

 

A Philosophy Woven into Every Pattern

More than its distinctive appearance, the checkerboard pattern of Poleng carries a deeper philosophical meaning.

The alternating black and white squares represent Rwa Bhineda—the understanding that opposing forces are not meant to defeat one another, but to exist in harmony.

For this reason, Poleng is often wrapped around protective guardian statues (Dwarapala), temple gateways, and sacred architecture. Its presence serves as a quiet symbol of protection while reminding us that tradition and modern life continue to exist side by side.

A temple guardian statue wrapped in Poleng cloth, symbolising protection and balance.

 

The Concept of Cosmic Duality

Life is a full of contrast.

Light and darkness.

Mountain and sea.

Joy and sorrow.

Rather than opposing one another, these contrasts exist in balance, each giving meaning to the other.

Through its alternating pattern, the Poleng reminds us that two opposing elements are not designed to eliminate one another. Instead, these differences function to create a dynamic, balanced, and complete existence. Therefore, the balance gives life its richness and completeness.

A close-up of the Poleng pattern woven into traditional Balinese stone architecture.

 

Principles of Acceptance and Structural Equilibrium

It's a quiet reminder that harmony isn't found in perfection, but in embracing every part of life's journey.

Rather than seeking perfection, Rwa Bhineda invites us to embrace life in its entirety. Joy and difficulty. Certainty and change. Each has its place, and together they create balance. The alignment of custom, nature, and human relations in Bali reflects how this principle of coexistence is carried out in daily life.

Perhaps that is why the Poleng cloth continues to feel relevant today. It reminds us that harmony is not the absence of difference, but the willingness to let different forces exist together.

The symmetry of towering penjor and the orderly procession of locals during a ceremony demonstrate harmony in public spaces.

 

Living the Philosophy

Rwa Bhineda is more than an idea—it is a way of seeing the world.

Rather than striving for perfection, it invites us to accept life in its entirety. Moments of certainty and uncertainty. Celebration and stillness. Strength and vulnerability. Each has its place, and together they create balance.

This philosophy quietly shapes everyday life in Bali, where relationships between people, nature, and the spiritual world are nurtured with equal care. Harmony is not something achieved once, but something continually practiced.

local shrine framed by lush greenery, with Rwa Bhineda integrated into its everyday surroundings.

 

Where Nature and Culture Meet

One of the most beautiful aspects of Poleng is how naturally it becomes part of Bali's landscape.

It wraps around ancient banyan trees, temple pillars, village shrines, and sacred monuments—not to separate nature from culture, but to acknowledge that every place carries its own presence and deserves respect.

This quiet practice reflects a worldview where the natural and spiritual are not separate realms, but deeply interconnected.

Perhaps that is why walking through Bali often feels different.

The island doesn't simply preserve its traditions—it continues to live them.

 

What This Means to Us

One of the greatest gifts of travelling is discovering that every place has its own way of understanding life.

For us, learning about Rwa Bhineda was never simply about a black-and-white cloth. It was about seeing how the Balinese embrace contrast—not as something to resolve, but as something to honour.

Perhaps that is why Bali feels the way it does.

The sacred and the everyday exist side by side.

Bustling markets lead quietly to ancient temples.

Dramatic volcanic peaks overlook gentle rice terraces.

Moments of celebration are balanced by moments of stillness.

It is this harmony of contrasts that continues to inspire the way we approach fragrance.

At Bentala, every fragrance begins long before the first ingredient is selected. It begins with listening—to the landscapes, traditions, and philosophies that quietly shape a place and the people who call it home.

Only then do we ask how those experiences might be translated into scent.

Just as Rwa Bhineda teaches that balance emerges through contrast, many of our fragrances are composed in the same spirit—freshness alongside warmth, lightness alongside depth, familiarity alongside discovery.

Because a place is never defined by one element alone.

Neither is a fragrance.

Through scent, we hope to share not only the beauty of Indonesia's landscapes, but also the stories, wisdom, and cultural traditions that continue to shape them—inviting others to discover not just where these places are, but what they quietly have to teach.

A portrait of Bali’s modern generation, seamlessly adopting cultural traditions within a contemporary context.

 

Read more articles, including:

• When Our Stories Crossed Borders – Bentala's reflection on Fragrance of Asia in Kuala Lumpur.
• When Fragrance Became a Conversation – Bentala's reflection on BFF Festival.

• A Season of Meaning, Connection, and Reflection – Exploring deeper on Ramadan.