Woven effigies of The Goddess of rice, Dewi Sri

These delicate effigies, known as cili, honor Dewi Sri, the revered goddess of rice and fertility. Each figure is woven from the dried leaves of the pandan plant, and their crowned, fan-shaped heads symbolize abundance and the nurturing power of the earth.

Once common throughout Bali and East Java, cili were made by women, blessed in ceremony, and placed in the eaves of rice barns to protect harvests from calamity and malevolent forces. Over time, the practice diminished, and examples such as these have become increasingly rare.

The story of Dewi Sri is one of sacrifice and renewal. She is believed to have offered her own body so that rice, the staff of life, could nourish humankind. In these woven forms, ritual and craft are closely intertwined. Each thread expresses gratitude to the land and honors the cycle of sustenance that continues to support Balinese life.