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Top:/Destinations/Bali/Events/Religious Celebrations/Galungan
 If you happen to visit Bali during the Galungan days, you will discover that most temples are attractively decorated, dressed up with batik and white or yellow cloths wrapped around each of the individual shrines.
The streets are lined with Penjor, an offering suspended from a tall, curved and decorated bamboo pole. The arch represents Mt. Agung, the body represents the river that flows from the mountains to the sea, and along its route are the products of the harvest, tied to the pole; at the foot of the pole is a temporary shrine.
The Balinese Hindus use the Saka lunar calendar and the 210-day Pawukon calendar. There are 30 seven-day weeks in one Pawukon cycle, and each has a unique name. The ten days between the Wednesday of Dunggulan, the 11th week, and the Saturday of Kuningan, the 12th week, are a period called Galungan or Galungan Days, starting on the Galungan Day and ending on the Kuningan Day.
Galungan Days are very important religious celebrations for Balinese Hindus. The Galungan festivity marks the victory of dharma (order) over adharma (disorder). According to the local legend, centuries ago, Bali came to be ruled by a cruel, godless tyrant named Mayadenawa, who banned religious festivals, tore down temples and punished anyone caught worshipping their Hindu gods.
While he reigned, pestilence and famine raged across the island. The crops withered, rivers turned dry and people grew sick. Indra, god of storms and war, heard the island's prayers and came to earth with a great army to destroy Mayadenawa.
Following the terrible battles, the evil king was killed in the hills of Gianyar. He died on Rebo (Wednesday) of the 11th week of the Pawukon calendar. Mayadenawa symbolizes the adharma and the day of his killing marks the victory of dharma over adharma. The Balinese Hindus express this victory with prayers, a feast, offerings and, of course, a family get-together.
In addition to this, the Balinese Hindus believe that the deified ancestors of the family descend to their former homes during Galungan. So, these deified ancestors must be entertained, and welcomed with prayers and offerings. Families with deceased relatives who are buried and have not yet been cremated (and therefore not yet deified) must make offerings at the graves. The visit of these ancestors is expected to last until Kuningan.
In the Gregorian calendar system, this year, Galungan Day occurs on November 20. However, for six days before the celebration, people will be busy preparing for the festival. Sugian Jawa is the special day, six days before the main celebration, when special offerings are placed, mainly in family temples, for Gods and Goddesses, and for the manifestation of the Almighty. At the same time as the offerings are placed, a prayer is said for purification. On the next day, known as Sugian Bali, the same ritual activities as the preceding day take place.
On the Sunday before Galungan, known as Penyekeban, from sekeb, 'to cover up,' green bananas are sealed in huge clay pots under which a small coconut husk fire burns. Lots of bananas are required for Galungan offerings, and this treatment ripens them quickly. This day is also believed to be the day when Sang Kala Tiga (invisible disturber) comes down the earth to seduce people to do bad things. Until the Galungan day comes, the Balinese people believe that Sang Kala Tiga will be around, so it is important to do many good things and take part in rituals to cast away any bad influences.
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The next day, Penyajaan, is devoted to making the many colored cakes using fried rice dough, jaja. This jaja is then used to make offerings.
On the day before Galungan, called Penampahan (from nampah meaning to slaughter an animal) pigs or turtles are killed for the traditional Galungan morning feasts. Significant features of this feast are babi guling (roasted pig), and traditional lawar (a spicy hash of mixed vegetables teamed with meat and often fresh pig's blood).
Penampahan also symbolizes the slaughter of the bad things, and this is represented by the slaughtered animals and is definitely the ultimate defeat over disorder. Penjor, the bamboo pole that is so beautifully decorated with young coconut leaves and other natural ornaments, is also erected to welcome the victory day.
Galungan day is a time for prayer, family get-together and offerings. People pray at the family temples and some other temples. Usually people who live in town go to the hometown to visit their elders.
The day after Galungan, known as Manis Galungan) is a time for visiting friends and relatives and the roads are usually packed with cars and motorcycles. Kuningan marks the end of Galungan celebration. It takes place on the Saturday of the 12th week of the Pawukon cycle, ten days after Galungan. The name Kuningan comes from the word kuning (yellow), because the turmeric in the rice offerings gives them this color. Galungan is an all-island festival. The preparations in the villages are striking, everybody gets to work, decorating the temple, and making offerings and penjor. Galungan is definitely a festival that is well worth seeing.
(Article compiled from Bali Sekala & Niskala and other sources)
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