Balinesse ceremony day

Balinesse ceremony day

 Galungan day

Galungan is a Balinese holiday that occurs every 210 days and lasts for 10 days. Kuningan is the last day of the holiday. Galungan means "When the Dharma is winning." During this holiday the Balinese gods visit the Earth and leave on Kuningan.

Galungan Day is the climax of the Galungan celebrations. Throughout the day the local temples are crowded with people coming and going, bringing the offerings that have been prepared since Penyekeban.

Occurring once in every 210 days in the pawukon (Balinese cycle of days), Galungan marks the beginning of the most important recurring religious ceremony that is celebrated by all Balinese. During the Galungan period the deified ancestors of the family descend to their former homes. They must be suitably entertained and welcomed, and prayers and offerings must be made for them. Those families who have ancestors that have not yet been cremated, but are still buried in the village cemetery, must make offerings at the graves.

Although Galungan falls on a Wednesday, most Balinese will begin their Galungan 'holiday' the day before, where the family is seen to be busily preparing offerings and cooking for the next day. While the women of the household have been busy for days before creating beautifully woven 'banten' (offerings made from young coconut fronds), the men of our village usually wake up well before dawn to join with their neighbours to slaughter a pig unlucky enough to be chosen to help celebrate this occasion. Then the finely diced pork is mashed to a pulp with a grinding stone, and moulded onto sate sticks that have been already prepared by whittling small sticks of bamboo. Chickens may also be chosen from the collection of free-range chickens that roam around the house compound. Delicate combinations of various vegetables, herbs and spices are also prepared by the men to make up a selection of 'lawar' dishes. While much of this cooking is for use in the offerings to be made at the family temple, by mid-morning, once all the cooking is done, it is time for the first of a series of satisfying feasts from what has been prepared. While the women continue to be kept busy with the preparations of the many offerings to be made at the family temple on the day of Galungan, the men also have another job to do this day, once the cooking is finished. A long bamboo pole, or 'penjor', is made to decorate the entrance to the family compound. By late Tuesday afternoon all over Bali the visitor can see these decorative poles creating a very festive atmosphere in the street.

On Wednesday, the day of Galungan, one will find that most Balinese will try to return to their own ancestral home at some stage during the day, even if they work in another part of the island. This is a very special day for families, where offerings are made to God and to the family ancestors who have come back to rest at this time in their family temple. As well as the family temple, visits are made to the village temple with offerings as well, and to the homes of other families who may have helped the family in some way over the past six months.
The day after Galungan is a time for a holiday, visiting friends, maybe taking the opportunity to head for the mountains for a picnic. Everyone is still seen to be in their 'Sunday best' as they take to the streets to enjoy the festive spirit that Galungan brings to Bali.
The date for Galungan and other special Balinese days is shown on the Balinese Calendar.

Special Galungan celebrations

1. Galungan Nadi - If Budha Kliwon Dungulan coincidences with Purnama (full moon) - similar to the first celebration which took place at Purnama, October 15, 882 AD - then the ngotonan (anniversary) of Galungan is celebrated, a special day that is blessed by Sang Hyang Ketu (Dewa Kecemerlangan). Galungan Nadi is celebrated in a much more solemn way than ordinary Galungan celebrations, and in general the offerings on this day will be more elaborate.
   Ethymology: Nadi is Balinese for 'become alive' (magically), Ketu is Balinese for 'headgear of a priest', and Kecemerlangan means 'glorious'.
   Celebration date: Galungan Nadi occurs about every 10 years.
2. Galungan Nara Mangsa - If Budha Kliwon Dungulan coincidences with Tilem (dark moon) Sasih Kepitu (7th month of the Balinese Saka moon calendar) or Tilem Sasih Kesanga (the 9th month of the Saka calendar, which is the day before Nyepi) then Galungan falls on a very bad day. Such days are ruled by Kala Rau - days on which the bhuta kala are very active while the dewa/dewi (gods) remain passive.

Kuningan Day

Ten days after Galungan Day, exactly on August 21, 2004., Balinese Hindu followers to celebrate the prosperity day of "Kuningan".

The day of Kuningan marks the elaborate temple festival at Sakenan Temple, one of the big temples in Bali. Sakenan Temple is located in Serangan Island, frequently called Turtle Island, an ideal site for surfing.

The temple will be jam-packed by locals wearing traditional Balinese costumes for three days. To reach the temple, you can either go by boat, cars or bikes. You will pass a bridge linking the Serangan Island and the south of Denpasar. It takes only around 15 minutes drive to get there. Many travel agents have taken their guests to the island where they can watch the Balinese Hindu gathering in the temple for ritual ceremonial purposes.

The Kuningan Day is the time for commemoration as the ancestors return to the heaven after ten days dwelling on earth and the Balinese express their gratitude to gods for His mercy to the human races. Therefore, it is a time for holiday, visiting each other and fun. Every village in Bali will celebrate Kuningan in grand style, with colorful festivals held at the temple in some parts of Bali Island.

The bamboo pole or locally called penjor, which has been erected at the front of each house compound's entrance gate since a day before Galungan is redecorated by taking down the white clothes and substituted with the yellow clothes, symbolizing the prosperity.

The Kuningan Day will provide an opportunity for travelers to see ritual procession.
 

Nyepi day

Celebrating Nyepi day with one day with out light and Nosy.
ogoh ogh nyepi day

 

Nyepi is a balinese “Day of Silence” that is commemorated every Isakawarsa (Saka new year) according to the Balinese calendar (in 2014, it falls onMarch 31). It is a Hindu celebration mainly celebrated in Bali. Nyepi, a public holiday in Indonesia, is a day of silence, fasting and meditation for the Balinese. The day following Nyepi is also celebrated as New Year’s Day.
Nyepi is observed from 6 a.m. until 6 a.m. the next morning. It is a day reserved for self reflection and as such, anything that might interfere with that purpose is restricted.

The main restrictions are:
no lighting fires (and lights must be kept low); no working; no entertainment or pleasure; no traveling; and for some, no talking or eating at all.

The effect of these prohibitions is that Bali’s usually bustling streets and roads are empty, there is little or no noise from TVs and radios, and few signs of activity are seen even inside homes. The only people to be seen outdoors are the Pecalang, traditional security men who patrol the streets to ensure the prohibitions are being followed.

Although Nyepi is primarily a Hindu holiday, non-Hindu residents of Bali observe the day of silence as well, out of respect for their fellow citizens. Even tourists are not exempt; although free to do as they wish inside their hotels, no one is allowed onto the beaches or streets, and the only airport in Bali remains closed for the entire day. The only exceptions granted are for emergency vehicles carrying those with life-threatening conditions and women about to give birth.
On the day after Nyepi, known as Ngembak Geni, social activity picks up again quickly, as families and friends gather to ask forgiveness from one another, and to perform certain religious rituals together.