A Russian couple has been evicted for posing nude while climbing an ancient banyan tree near a temple in the Tabanan area of Indonesia’s Bali island. In Balinese Hindu culture, the 600-year-old banyan tree is considered sacred. The island authorities said the couple had been evicted from the island on Friday for insulting local cultural heritage. News AFP.
In Balinese Hindu culture, hills and trees are considered sacred. Recently, Russian woman Alina Fazliva posed nude while climbing such a banyan tree. Her picture was taken by her husband Andrei Fazliva. Alina posted the photo on Instagram. The photo went viral in an instant as Alina has thousands of followers on Instagram.
The Balinese Hindu community was outraged when they saw the picture. “They did not respect the local customs,” Jamali Manihuruk, head of Bali’s immigration department, told reporters yesterday. The Russian couple will be banned from Indonesia for at least six months. According to the local custom, they have to take part in the purification ceremony of that holy place.
Alina Fazliva has already posted an apology on her Instagram account in English and Bahasa Indonesia. “It’s a big mistake,” he said.
Alina writes, ‘There are many holy places in Bali. Not all of them have given that information. The same thing happened to me. It is important to respect these places and traditions.
Earlier last year, about 200 people were evacuated from Bali Island. Some of them have been expelled for violating the Covid-19 restrictions.
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