Shillong, October 4: Indonesian authorities on Bali Island are actively seeking a foreign national who was captured on video meditating naked at a Hindu shrine, causing widespread outrage.
As per IANS, the video initially surfaced on social media through the ‘canggu_bali’ community group and was subsequently shared and reported by influencer Ni Luh Djelantik.
In the video, the individual, wearing only a necklace, is seen sitting with crossed legs in front of the shrine, seemingly in meditation. Djelantik expressed deep displeasure, writing on Instagram, “So disrespectful. Meditating naked on our temple?… How could you do this, humiliating Balinese and their belief? Immigration Officer, please get this person; we’ve had enough! This is a humiliation to us Balinese people.”
Authorities have identified the foreign national but have not publicly disclosed their name or nationality. A search operation is underway to apprehend the individual, with the exact location of the video and its creator remaining undisclosed.
Tedy Riyandi, the head of Denpasar Immigration, stated, “We are in coordination with the Directorate of Intel and Security of the Bali Regional Police. We are working hard to track down the whereabouts of the foreigner and determine the time and location of the incident.”
This incident has sparked outrage among netizens who called for respect for local customs. Bali, with a majority Hindu population, holds sacred places in high regard. In June, the island released a set of dos and don’ts for tourists, emphasizing the need to uphold the “quality and dignity” of tourism. Disruptive behavior, including trespassing sacred sites and taking indecent photos, can result in harsh penalties and legal action under Indonesian law.
Notably, more than 200 individuals have been deported from Bali in the first eight months of the year for unruly tourist behavior and visa violations. This incident follows the deportation of a Russian woman in April for posting a nude photo of herself in front of a sacred tree.