Bali Festivals & Events Guide
Calendar of Bali Events
Festivals and events are important features in the social landscape
of Bali, and also permanent fixtures in the lives of the Balinese.
These festivals and events are determined by the calendars of the
Balinese from long ago.
The major events in the life of a Balinese is believed to occur
on fixed dates, which go according to the Balinese Calendar. Unlike
temple festivals, these major events take place nearly every six
months or every 210 days!
The Balinese believe in annual cycles and every six months of a
Balinese's life is a celebration of holidays and life-cycle ceremonies.
Since his conception in his mother's womb, every Balinese passes
through certain stages, and this carries on up until marriage. These
are the events celebrated to mark the passage of a Balinese as he
progresses in his life. But the ritual of utmost importance to the
Balineses is the ritual of the funeral rites and cremation.
It is, therefore, extremely obvious that festivals and events are
an integral part of Balinese life and a huge part of the mysticism
and allure that sets Bali apart from any other land. To help preserve
and maintain every aspect of this rich culture, the Provincial Government
of Bali holds numerous Annual Festivals.
Calendars
The Balinese use altogether three types of calendars for one year;
one is the typical Western calendar, and the other two are local
Balinese calendars, the saka and the wuku calendars.
The wuku calendar is used to find out dates for festivals and
has 10 different weeks, each from one to 10 days and all running
simultaneously.
The saka calendar is a lunar calendar of Hindu origin, which closely
follows the Western calendar in terms of the length of the year.
With illustrations for each day indicating what activities that
day is auspicious for, Balinese calendars make popular souvenirs.
Some of Bali's major temples celebrate their festivals according
to the dictates of the saka calendar. Hence, the actual date of
a festival is difficult to determine from the Western calendar since
the lunar saka does not have a predetermined number of days.
The wuku calendar, however, does have a set number of days. According
to the saka, full moons days from the end of September till the
start of October, or from early to mid-April are normally important
festive dates, and temples will celebrate important temple festivals
then.
Galungan
Bali's most important festival is the Galungan festival. It is
a feast and festival which is held throughout the whole island and
an annual event in the wuku year. It is believed that during this
ten day period all Balinese gods, including Sanghyang Widi, the
supreme deity, will descend to earth for the festivities. Barongs
prance from temple to temple and village to village in celebration
of the Galungan with the gods.
Galungan to the Balinese, is the most important holiday period
as it symbolizes the victory of Dharma, or Virtue, upon Adharma,
or all that is Evil. The festivities are made extra special by the
fitting of 'penjor' on the right side of the entrance to every house.
A penjor is a tall bamboo pole terrifically decorated with woven
young coconut leaves, cakes, fruits and flowers; and also a must
for every Balinese household. The Galungan also sees the Balinese
decked in their finest clothes and jewels for the day.
The last day of the 10-day festival is the most important day.
Known as Kuningan, it is the climax of the ten-day Galungan, and
also serves to bringing the holiday period to a close. Kuningan
is a day for prayer, and a special ritual ceremony is held for the
spirits of the Balinese's ancestors.
Just as the Galugan ends with a day of symbolic prayer, its beginning
is marked by Pagerwesi. Pagerwesi literally means 'iron fence',
and on Pagerwesi day every year, ceremonies and prayers are held
in supplication for iron-strong mental and spiritual defense in
welcoming the Galungan holiday.
Nyepi
The saka calendar has a major festival called Nyepi, or the final
day of the saka year. It falls on the day after the new moon on
the ninth month. Nyepi is a celebrated holiday and the Balinese
New Year called icaka New Year. It is a day of total silence throughout
the island. Nyepi really is a celebration observed with total silence!
On Nyepi day, there is totally no activity - no traffic at all
on the roads, no amusement is held the whole day long. No fires
also may be lit in observance of the Nyepi and great purification
and sacrificial rites are held on the day prior to Nyepi in order
to exorcise evil spirits from every corner of Bali.
Saraswati
Bali and the Balinese also celebrate Saraswati, a day devoted to
God's manifestation as the wise and beautiful Goddess of Knowledge,
Art and Literature - the Dewi Saraswati. To mark this joyous day,
books of knowledge, manuscripts and the Wedas are blessed and special
offerings are made together with aspirations for knowledge and wisdom.
Arts Festival
Highly notable is the Annual Arts Festival, which interestingly
takes place from every second Saturday of June to the second Saturday
of July. This Annual Arts Festival is a celebration of exhibitions
and performances of various kinds of artworks and cultural achievements,
including the absorbing Kite Festival.
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