OnBali

The Significance of Galungan and Kuningan Celebrations in Bali

By Catur Herawanto
4 min read
Sep 05, 2024
Date of Last Update: Sep 05, 2024

Whether you've just arrived in Bali or have been living here for a while, it's hard to keep up with the different ceremonies that the Balinese have. But aside from Nyepi Day (Silent Day), which marks the Balinese New Year, and Ngaben, the cremation ceremony, Galungan and Kuningan are possibly the other celebrations you're familiar with. So, what exactly is the Galungan and Kuningan celebration in Bali? What does it signify in the Balinese Hindu religion? In this article, we'll tell you about this important celebration and why you should be in Bali when it occurs.

What is the Galungan and Kuningan Celebration in Bali?

Galungan Day in Bali is a holiday for celebrating the victory of dharma (goodness) and triumph over adharma (evil) of Sang Hyang Widhi (God). The Balinese believe that this day welcomes the ancestral spirits of deceased relatives visiting the earth. Thus, they need to prepare and bring offerings to the temples, put on their finest traditional clothes to visit and pray, and be thankful for the blessings and prosperity they've received. Subsequently, Kuningan Day is when the spirits leave the earth and marks the last day of the Galungan celebration in Bali, which falls on the tenth day after Galungan Day.

Galungan Day is calculated using the Pawukon Calendar and is celebrated every 210 days. It always falls on Wednesday in the 11th week of the calendar. This means that Galungan and Kuningan are commemorated twice in the Gregorian Calendar. But Galungan is not exclusively for Balinese people in Bali; any Balinese Hindu people who live in Indonesia or abroad also celebrate this important day.

Penjor on the streets of Bali during Galungan and KuninganThe History of Galungan Day in Bali

Galungan was first acknowledged as part of Balinese ritual in 882 AD. According to the old holy book, King Sri Jayakasunu reignited the celebration to commemorate the triumph of the God Indra against Mayadenawa - or when goodness defeated evil.

Since then, Balinese people have believed that Galungan is the day when the spirit of the deceased ancestors comes back to Earth.

Three women on the celebration of Galungan Day in BaliThe Preparations for Galungan and Kuningan Day in Bali

The preparations start weeks before Galungan Day. We mentioned before that Galungan and Kuningan are likely to be the other ceremonies in Bali that you are familiar with because only during this period will you see penjor on the streets all over Bali.

Penjor is a bamboo pole made of coconut leaves and ornaments, with offerings suspended at the end. The sight of penjor on the streets of Bali really shows how art is infused into the traditions and religious ceremonies of Bali.

Baskets with fruits and preparations for the ceremony in BaliThe Days Before and After Galungan Day in Bali

For ten days, the Balinese will be extremely busy with different preparations and the aftermath of Galungan Day. You'll see more people dressed in traditional clothes, and the temples will be more crowded than at any other time of the year.

  • Tumpek Wariga: making porridges with different colours for trees and roots (25 Days before Galungan)

  • Sugihan Jawa: cleaning up the house and temples (held on a specific Thursday before Galungan)

  • Sugihan Bali: cleaning the body and the mind (held on a specific Friday before Galungan)

  • Penyekeban: making offerings made of bananas (Three Days before Galungan)

  • Penyajaan: making of jaja or fried rice cakes (Two Days before Galungan)

  • Penampahan: preparing the pigs or chicken for the feast as well as installing penjor (One Day before Galungan)

  • Manis Galungan: visiting extended family who may live close by (One Day after Galungan)

  • Kuningan: bring offerings and pray at the temples (10 Days after Galungan)

The decorations on the territory of Balinese templeWhen are the Galungan and Kuningan days in Bali?

The second Galungan Day of 2024 will fall on Wednesday, September 25, while Kuningan Day will be celebrated on October 5.

Where can we see the Celebrations of Galungan Day in Bali?

Although you'll see many penjors on the side of the street around the island, there are several places where you can see the real celebrations, mostly in temples. If you really want to experience both the Galungan and Kuningan days in Bali, these are the places you should visit.

📍 Tanah Lot Temple

📍 Uluwatu Temple

📍 Lempuyang Temple

📍 Besakih Temple

📍 Ulun Danu Beratan Temple

📍 Tirta Empul Temple

📍 Penglipuran Village

During Galungan, the penjors in the locations listed here are extremely beautiful, and many tourists and even locals will make the effort to see these bamboo poles. If you're into photography, the sights of hundreds of penjors make a perfect background for your photos.

If you go to the temples, please remain respectful, as the Balinese people are there to pray. Always wear appropriate clothes and watch your words and actions to avoid disturbing the sacred ceremony.

Penjor and Balinese temple during the celebration

portrait of the writer on Bali
Catur Herawanto
The author of the project ONBALI
77 articles

Hi everyone! My name is Catur, and I was born and raised in Central Java. I moved to Bali in 2011 but left the island in 2016 before returning in 2018. Bali feels more than a home to me, and maybe that’s why my name feels like a premonition. Catur means four, both in the Balinese and Javanese languages. It is spoken like ‘c’ in chess, which is also the meaning of my name in Indonesian.

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