I'm posting this again for everyone, probably more so first timers cos I think its really important. I didn't understand much about the offerings on the street and in the shops etc. I respected them and always walked around them, made sure I never kicked them or trampled on them but never really understood them. I asked on the forum (Monday I think) if it was offensive to re-light incense in an offering on the street after assuming this was perfectly acceptable. I had walked past an offering (going back 12 months) and the incense had gone out so thinking I was doing the right thing, I bent down and lit it again! I thought I was being sweet and assumed you shouldn't really let the incense go out incase it was bad luck or perhaps me re-lighting it would bring luck, hell I don't know. How ignorant am I? I've been to Bali a few times and never once asked or understood the offerings which is fairly wrong, I knew it was a daily offering to the gods but thats it. Anyway, read this post from ardjuna2000 if you have ever considered bringing a Balinese shop owner luck by re-lighting his/her incense. Tut tut!!
"The daily offerings placed outside and around Balinese compounds are a means of maintaing a balanced relationship between Humanity and the non material world. Depending on the calender day, they are offered either to Ancestors, Gods, or Demons (or sometimes to all 3). After placing them, a bit of Sacred Water is sprinkled, a Mantra is quietly recited, and incense is lit as a symbolic "stairway". These acts bring the offers to "Life", and the beings to whom thet are directed then "eat" the essence. What remains over is considered "dead", and thus no longer appropriate for offering. Imagine being invited for a nice meal and you see your host has dug out leftovers from the rubbish to give to you!! This is more or less the rationale. I hope this clears it up a bit for you. An excellent book with wonderful illustrations (called, strangely enough, "Offerings") has been written by Francine Brinkgreve, a friend of mine. I believe it's available in bookshops in Ubud. Try Ganesha on the Jalan Raya"