Galungan is a
Balinese holiday celebrating the victory of ''dharma'' over ''adharma''.
[Eiseman (1989) p353] It marks the time when the
ancestral spirits
The veneration of the dead, including one's ancestors, is based on love and respect for the deceased. In some cultures, it is related to beliefs that the dead have a continued existence, and may possess the ability to influence the fortune of t ...
visit the Earth. The last day of the celebration is Kuningan, when they return. The date is calculated according to the 210-day Balinese
Pawukon calendar
The Pawukon is a 210-day calendar that has its origins in the Hindu religion in Bali, Indonesia. The calendar consists of 10 different concurrent weeks of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 days. On the first day of the year it is the first day of ...
.
Significance
Galungan marks the beginning of the most important recurring religious ceremonies. The spirits of deceased relatives who have died and been cremated return to visit their homelands, and the current inhabitants have a responsibility to be hospitable through prayers and offerings. The most obvious sign of the celebrations are the ''
penjor
A penjor ( ban, ᬧᬾᬜ᭄ᬚᭀᬃ) is a Balinese Hindu religious symbol of prosperity installed on the day of the Galungan ceremony. Its form is of a tall, decorated bamboo pole and can be seen across Bali year-round in front of homes, co ...
'' - bamboo poles with offerings suspended at the end. These are installed by the side of roads. A number of days around the Kuningan day have special names, and are marked by the organization of particular activities.
[Eiseman (1989) p183]
Dates
Galungan begins on the Wednesday (Buda), the 11th week of the 210-day
pawukon calendar. This means that there are often two celebrations per
solar year
A tropical year or solar year (or tropical period) is the time that the Sun takes to return to the same position in the sky of a celestial body of the Solar System such as the Earth, completing a full cycle of seasons; for example, the time f ...
. Dates for 2018-2024 are as follows:
[balilocalguide.com]
References
Balilocalguide.com Calendar of events Accessed 6 November 2018
* Eiseman, Fred B. Jr, ''Bali: Sekala and Niskala Volume I: Essays on Religion, Ritual and Art'' pp 182-185, Periplus Editions, 1989
* Pancorbo, Lo balinés", en "Fiestas del Mundo. Las Máscaras de la Luna". pp. 33–41. Ediciones del Serbal, Barcelona, 1996.
Notes
External links
*Video documenting Galungan ceremony preparations on Bal
part 1part2How Galungan is celebrated in Bali
{{Hindu festivals
Religious festivals in Indonesia
Observances set by the Pawukon calendar