A video showing a foreign national playing a DJ set on the peak of Mount Batur, Kintamani, Bangli Regency, Bali, went viral and sparked debate on social media, as the mountain is considered sacred by the Balinese.
In a circulating video jointly posted by the Instagram accounts @denpasar.viral and @denpasarviralcom, the foreigner—whose identity, as of the writing of this article, has yet to be identified—is seen playing a DJ set on the summit of Mount Batur at sunrise. Several climbers are gathered around him. Some are recording with their phones, while others simply watch.
After going viral, the video has sparked debate among netizens. Some doubted the authenticity of the video, suggesting the action might have been part of an authorised video clip production or creative content. However, others believed the video to be authentic and, therefore, questioned the permit for such activities in the mountainous area.
One netizen wrote in the comment section of the Instagram post: “If we look at it positively, this makes the beauty of our nature more well-known. It’s the making of a video clip, not an actual DJ performance.”
Another netizen wrote: “Honestly, this bule is being cocky. Yesterday I also saw a bule suddenly performing live music on Honeymoon Beach. Feel that this country is yours, don’t you?”
Another netizen, meanwhile, wrote: “Oh, please — [Mount Batur] is a sacred place.”
Responding to the viral video, the Head of the Bangli Tourism Office, I Wayan Dirga Yusa, stated that his office is still investigating the authenticity of the viral video. The time of the incident and the identity of the foreigner in the video remain unknown.
“We are still gathering data on the development of tourism functions and the viral video incident. Regarding the legal standing of Mount Batur management, the authority lies with the Bali Natural Resources Conservation Agency,” Yusa said, as quoted from the press on Thursday, 16 April.
Heralded by locals as a sacred mountain, Mount Batur is considered by many to be a symbol of a meeting place between the human and spirit worlds. The Balinese believe that the mountain is filled with spiritual power and is therefore often used for religious ceremonies. One famous legend associated with the mountain is the story of the goddess Danu, who is believed to reside in Lake Batur. According to the story, the goddess maintains the balance of nature and provides life for the Balinese people who live around Mount Batur.
@panakmertaaa Nge DJ di club ❌ Nge DJ di gunung ✅ Batur 14-4-2026 #mountain ♬ suara asli – BERLI PUTRA – Berli Putra