Oct 05 – Authorities in Bali, Indonesia, are on the lookout for a foreign national featured in a viral video where he was seen meditating naked at a Hindu shrine. The video was widely shared on social media, initially posted by the community group ‘canggu_bali’ and later reported by influencer Ni Luh Djelantik.
In the video, the individual, wearing only a necklace, sits with crossed legs in front of the shrine, seemingly meditating. Djelantik expressed outrage on Instagram, condemning the act as disrespectful to the Balinese people and their beliefs. She called on immigration authorities to take action immediately.
While the authorities have identified the foreign national, they have not disclosed his name or nationality. The search for the individual is ongoing, and details about the exact location of the video and its source remain undisclosed.
Local news agencies have reported that they are collaborating with the Directorate of Intel and Security of the Bali Regional Police in their efforts to locate the individual and determine the incident’s time and location, according to Denpasar Immigration head Tedy Riyandi.
The video has elicited strong reactions from netizens, with many expressing their disapproval of such behavior by tourists on the island. Some called for a stricter stance on tourists who disrespect local customs and beliefs.
Bali has the largest Hindu population in Indonesia, with over 83 percent of its residents belonging to the Hindu community. In June of the same year, Bali released guidelines for tourists to uphold the “quality and dignity” of its tourism sector. These guidelines strictly prohibit actions such as trespassing sacred places, climbing sacred trees, taking indecent or nude photos at sacred sites, littering, and using non-recyclable plastics, among others. Failure to adhere to these rules can result in severe penalties and legal consequences under Indonesian law.
Reports indicate that more than 200 individuals were deported from Bali in the first eight months of the year due to unruly tourist behavior and visa violations. In a previous incident in April, a Russian woman was deported for posting a nude photo of herself in front of a sacred tree.
