Galungan Day Ceremony

Galungan and Kuningan is the Balinese holiday that occurs every 210 days, base on Pawukon calendar - the Balinese calendar.

Galungan is the day to celebrates triumph, the most important event for the Balinese. For Galungan, every house compound and entrance gate is decorated with umbul-umbul, a long colorful flag on an overhanging bamboo pole, and Penjor, long overhanging bamboo poles decorated with elaborate carved creations -- each different according to the region of the island.

During the celebration, school and business activity will stop and all concentration will focus on activities associated with this special celebration. During the Galungan, the Balinese believe that their ancestors descend to their former homes. The ancestors must be entertained and welcomed with prayer and offerings. They must also give offering at the grave for those who have ancestors that have not yet been cremated.

Galungan is always falls on Wednesday, but the Balinese will take holiday the day before to prepare offerings and cooking for the next day. While the woman are busy creating beautifully banten (offering made from coconut fronds), the men join the neighbors to slaughter a pig. Delicate combinations of various vegetables, herbs and spices are also prepared by men for dishes. Most of the cooking is for use in the offerings made at the family temple, but by mid-morning, once all the cooking is done, it is time for the first in a series of satisfying feasts. By late Tuesday afternoon all Bali will be covered with decorations along the roads and footpaths.

On the Wednesday of Galungan, most Balinese (even if they work in other part of Bali) will try to return to their own ancestral home. On this special day, the Balinese pray with the offerings at their own family temple and also at their village temple.

The day after Galungan is a time for a holiday, visiting friends, and maybe a picnic at the mountain or sea. Visitors who would like to witness this special day, should ask their travel agents as the date for Galungan day is only available in the Balinese calendar.

The Kuningan day celebration is usually held 10 days after Galungan. It is technically the last day of the Galungan celebration. All the decorations that had been used for Galungan will be removed after Kuningan day ends. The Kuningan day is the time for commemoration as the ancestors return to the heavens -- at least until Galungan comes around again, 210 days later.