Happy Galungan and Kuningan Day (the Balinese
Holiday:November1 to November 11, 2017)
A Major
Balinese Holiday, Commemorating Victory of Good Over Evil
Author,Ekarini
For more info about Bali:Bali Travel Info
Photo, lifeisarts
(Penjor, symbol of universe)
“Galungan is the most important feast
for Balinese Hindus, a celebration to honor the creator of the universe (Ida
Sang Hyang Widi) and the spirits of the honored ancestors.”
The festival
symbolizes the victory of good (Dharma) over evil (Adharma) and
encourages the Balinese to show their gratitude to the creator and their
ancestor spirits.
The Balinese
people celebrate Galungan feast twice a
year in the 210-day cycle of the Balinese calendar. It is believed this is the time of the year when the spirits of the
ancestors visit the earth.
Balinese
Hindus perform their rituals and make offerings to welcome and entertain these
returning spirits.
Photo, Bali Travel Info
Jaja Uli and Tape
(Fermented rice and rice cake)
The house in
the family compounds, and the entire
community of Bali come alive with
devotions to worship God and ancestors.
The community and member of the community offer bountiful offerings made
of food and flowers to God and the
ancestral spirits, expressing gratitude and hopes for protection and prosperity.
Photo, Balipedia
(Women carrying offerings to the temple)
The
characteristic of Galungan feast, you will see that the entire island would be
decorated with tall bamboo poles called "penjor"
-- these are usually decorated with fruit, coconut leaves, and flowers, and set
up on the right of every residence entrance. “At each gate, you'll also find
small bamboo altars set up especially for the holiday, each one bearing woven
palm-leaf offerings for the spirits.”
The Balinese
needs preparations for several days for Galungan feast.
Three days before Galungan ("Penyekeban"):
"Penyekeban"
literally means "the day to cover up ", as this is the day when green
bananas are covered up in huge clay pots to speed their ripening bananas. On this day, Balinese family also starts to
make Tape or fermented Rice. This is a characteristic food to offer while
Galungan festivity.
Two days
before Galungan ("Penyajahan") Marks as a time of introspection for
Balinese, this time, Balinese make the Balinese cakes known as jaja (Uli and Begina, these colored cakes made of
fried rice dough are placed in offerings and are also eaten especially on
Galungan).
A day before Galungan ("Penampahan"):
This is the
day before Galungan, Balinese actually cooks their food for family and for
offerings. They make traditional food like lawar (a spicy pork
and coconut sauce dish) and satay.
On Galungan day feast: Balinese people pray at the family temple and community temples. They make
their offerings to the ancestor spirits and God. Women are seen carrying the
offerings on their heads, while men help them to prepare the ceremony.
Photo, Lintas Dewata
(Temple decoration for Galungan celebration)
The day after Galungan called Umanis Galungan: This is the day after the
festivity, Balinese visits their family and friends to socialize.
The tenth day after Galungan ("Kuningan"): marks as the closing ceremony of
Galungan, and is believed to be the day when the spirits ascend back to heaven.
On this day, the Balinese people make special offerings made of yellow rice. The symbol of prosperity, at the same day the
Balinese people celebrate their Thanksgiving Day.
The Barong
Dance on the street of Bali
During
Galungan, you will see the ceremony called Ngelawang. This Barong dance is performed in the village
streets called Ngelawang. The Ngelawang
is an exorcism ceremony performed by a Barong -- a divine
protector in the form of a mythical beast.
The Barong
is invited into houses as he makes his way through the village.
“His
presence is meant to restore the balance of good and evil in a house. The
residents of the house will pray before the dancing Barong, who will afterward
give a piece of his fur as a keepsake.”
After the Barong
pays a visit, it is important to make an offering of a Canang Sari containing
money offer to the Barong as a gratitude.
The Galungan
and Kuningan ceremony celebration is a special treat for the tourists who visit
Bali because It isn't every day they see this festival on the whole island of
Bali with full of colors.
For Your
Information, many places will be closed for Galungan, as the companies respect
the Balinese employees will likely be going to their villages to celebrate the
holiday. But the restaurant in the
hotels mostly open.
If you missed the festival ceremony, as the Balinese calendar
follows a 210-day cycle, Galungan happens twice a year roughly every six
months. The holiday will be held:
+ November 1 - November 11, 2017
+ May 30 - June 9,
2018
+
December 26 - January 9, 2019
+
July 22 - August 3, 2019
+ February 19 -
February 29, 2020
+
September 16 - September 26, 2020
+ April 14 - April
24, 2021
Please make
your hotel reservations as early as possible to get the best deal.
Happy
Galungan and Kuningan Day!
