AYANA Bali's Saka Museum Unveils New Documentary 'Pasihan' on Bali's Subak Water Tradition
Saka Museum at AYANA Bali has released a 13-minute documentary titled 'Pasihan,' exploring the spiritual and communal dimensions of Bali's traditional subak irrigation system. The film complements the museum's permanent exhibition 'Subak: The Ancient Order of Bali' and is screened daily as part of the admission experience.
Saka Museum, located within AYANA Bali in the Jimbaran area, announced on August 20, 2026, the premiere of a new 13-minute documentary titled 'Pasihan.' Produced in collaboration with Niskala Studio, the film follows the flow of water from Pura Ulun Danu Batur temple to the Subak Pulagan rice terraces, portraying the people, rituals, and communal bonds sustaining Bali's traditional subak irrigation network—a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage system.
Through the daily lives of a temple official and a subak community leader, the documentary traces preparations for the annual harvest ritual 'Ngusaba Kadasa' through its culminating procession, while also touching on how agricultural land conversion is increasingly challenging the communal foundations of the subak system.
The film is positioned as a companion piece to the museum's permanent exhibition 'Subak: The Ancient Order of Bali' and is screened daily in the museum's 50-seat auditorium equipped with 5.1 surround sound, included in the regular admission fee. Visitors are encouraged to watch it alongside the museum's existing introductory film on the Balinese Saka calendar and Nyepi.
Things to Consider
Travelers interested in Balinese culture and agricultural landscapes should visit Saka Museum at AYANA Bali and watch the documentary alongside the permanent exhibition for deeper insight into the subak system. Screenings are included in the admission fee with no extra booking required, though checking the museum's opening hours on its official website in advance is advisable during busy periods. Pairing the visit with a trip to rice terraces such as Tabanan or Jatiluwih offers a more tangible sense of how subak actually functions.
Source: イザ！