Where to learn to make canang sari offerings in Bali?
Mostly in Ubud: several families and small workshops teach visitors how to make canang sari, the little coconut-leaf baskets filled with flowers that Balinese women place every day in front of homes, shops and temples. Allow 1 to 2 hours and 300,000 to 500,000 IDR (about US$17 to US$28), depending on the format.
Why it's different
The canang sari is the daily offering of Balinese Hinduism: a thank-you to the gods, repeated every morning in every household. Making one means stepping, for a moment, into the life of a Balinese family. Traditionally it's the women's job, but workshops are open to everyone. For the meaning of offerings and ceremonies, see what canang sari offerings mean.
How a workshop works
It usually has three stages:
- The explanation: what offerings are for, and why they're made every day.
- The folding: you cut and assemble young coconut leaves (janur) with small bamboo pins to form the basket. It's trickier than it looks, and first attempts are often hit and miss.
- The filling: you place the porosan (betel leaf, areca nut and lime) in the centre (the right way up!), then the flowers. Their colour and position carry meaning, each linked to a direction and a deity; but in everyday practice, the aim is mostly to make a beautiful arrangement.
Some workshops go further: a prayer in the family temple, placing your offering in a nearby temple, or making a gebogan, the tall tower of fruit carried on the head during major ceremonies.
Practical info
- Where: in Ubud, the Nirvana workshop on Jalan Goutama, right in the centre, is a good choice. Other workshops are held in family homes in the surrounding villages.
- Price: 300,000 to 500,000 IDR (US$17 to US$28) for a 2-hour family workshop with detailed explanations.
- Length: 1 to 2 hours.
- Another option: some cooking classes include making a canang in the afternoon (see where to take a cooking class). And if you're staying in a family-run homestay, just ask your host: she'll rarely say no, especially as most Balinese women make offerings every day anyway.
Verdict: for understanding Bali from the inside, it's one of the most memorable and rewarding activities on the island. Choose a small-group or family workshop rather than an add-on squeezed into a day tour.
Tip: if the workshop includes a prayer or a temple visit, cover your shoulders and knees and bring a sarong. Temples require it, and your hosts will appreciate it (see what to wear in Bali).
Information checked in November 2026; check again before you travel.