A gay couple have been married at a five star resort in Ubud recently. It is understood that one is local to Indonesia and the other American.

As photographs of the wedding spread on social media there has been a national outcry on the island. The photos feature someone wearing the white clothing of a Pemangku, a Hindu holy man, and two women in traditional Balinese attire.

Hinduism forbids same sex marriage and even marriage between differing religions is banned in conservative Indonesia. It seems that the controversy in this case comes not from the marriage itself but from the involvement of the hindu religion.

After outcry from the public, public figures have been keen to condemn the marriage as a disgrace to Bali.

Bali Governor Made Pastika“It should not have happened. Should not. Where was it?” Bali Governor Made Pastika angrily said this week.

“In the Hindu religion it is banned. Extremely banned. I want to know, where was it? We should give a reprimand. I think it’s a disgrace for Bali. It should not happen,” he said.

Bali’s police chief, Inspector General Sugeng Priyanto said preliminary inquiries had shown that it was not an official or legal wedding but a celebration because the couple had already legally married in the US.

“Preliminary information that we received is that the two men, a US national and an Indonesian, have already married in the US. They came to Bali to hold a celebration,” Insp Gen Priyanto said.

“They said it was a Hindu ritual. We will question expert witnesses first to find out about the ritual according to the Hindu religion. If it (the ceremony) was deviate maybe we will use that article. Based on the information we receive there was a Hindu ritual held during celebration. There was also offerings. For sure if we find that there are violations of the law the police will take action,” he said.

It is thought that the couple flew to the USA a few days after the ceremony