What are the activities and responsibilities of the banjar?
The activities and responsibilities of the banjar are guided by the village authority, one level above this powerful community unit. Depending on how active the banjar committee is, they will be intimately involved with most local activities. For an activity to be discussed, the banjar will hold a meeting, attended by all the married men. Only then can the activity make any headway.
Examples of activities may be fundraising for the youth group, renovating the banjar buildings, or purchasing a gamelan set. The activity may be a cultural or sporting event such as a dance performance or a martial art contest. It could simply be the anniversary of the banjar, an event that all members are expected to attend.
Most activities will be carried out together, working in a system known as gotong royong, where there are more hands available than needed and everyone has an equal opportunity to help. The important thing is that each member is seen by the banjar committee, as absentees are noted and may be heavily fined.
An important banjar activity is participation in religious ceremonies such as temple ceremonies, weddings and cremations. The latter, in particular, would be difficult for a grieving family to handle without the help of the banjar.
Being involved in so many activities, the banjar takes on great responsibilities for its members. It is expected, among other things, to keep the area clean and disease free, as well as handle environmental and social problems. Banjar committees often address problems such as conflict, social unrest and household disputes. The division responsible has an abbreviated name: The Siskamling, Hansip or Pecalang address local safety issues, some which are permanent and others which are specific to an event, for example: Nyepi. Whilst, the Posyandu takes care of infant health, from weighing babies to immunization, similar to Plunket in some western countries.
