At any point in the year, the people of Bali are highly likely celebrating one of many holidays that are spread through their wuku calendar. Balinese celebrations are essentially outlined by the people's spiritual beliefs and religious practices. They center round the various Hindu gods and demigods, the spirits of their forefathers and the deities of crop that nourish the earth that provides their food. They can involve animal sacrifices, decorated temples, marches to the sea, the thundering of the gamelan, nights of atonement, sumptuous banquets and entire days of silence.
Visitors are always welcome to join in the celebrations. In fact, it's a Balinese tradition to gladly receive people from foreign countries. But it is also important to comprehend the spirit that moves every lively festival. Have a look at some of the largest holidays that the inhabitants of Bali celebrate each year.
Melasti . On the day before the Balinese New Year, the locals dress in their best clothes and march to the ocean or the inland springs, carrying with them colorful umbrellas, woven containers of fruits and flowers and other offerings to honour the powerful waters of the sea. They also carry the 3 holy statues, Arca, Pratima and Pralingga and clean them with seawater while the men, women and children cheer and dance for joy to the music of the gamelan. After dark, on the eve of the New Year, the Balinese assemble on the streets to observe a purification ritual in the form of a parade of ogoh-ogoh, huge monster dolls that symbolize the malignant spirits that annual visit the island.
Nyepi . The Balinese New Year is a day of silence, meditation and, for some, fasting. Everybody is expected to remain in and do some self-examination after the commotion raised in the prior day's celebrations. No fires are lit and no indulgences are sated. Even holiday makers are asked to stay inside their hotels on this day. All businesses even the lone Balinese airport, are closed and the hotels may provide limited service. It is thought the noxious spirits that have stayed in Bali will mistake the silent island for an empty island and will so flee, making way for a fresh, new start for the incoming year.
Odalan . An odalan is a temple holiday that usually lasts three days to a week. People celebrate odalan for one thing only-to entertain the deities to whom these temples were built. The temples are decorated with palms leaves, flowers and towers made of bamboo on the day before the official start of the odalan. The festival often starts with a meditative prayer known as a muspa and is followed by the throwing of rice and holy water by the high priest. Later, it is pure spectacular merrymaking from there, with a lot of dancing, feasting and parading on the streets.
Galungan. Galungan is the most important day of the Balinese calendar, as it is assumed the gods and the spirits of their ancestors come back down to earth on this day and celebrate with them the victory of Good (Dharma) over Evil (Adharma). It is like Christmas in the Western parts of the globe. Women make preparations for this important day a month before it comes, weaving intricate patterns of coconut leaves, flowers and brightly-coloured fabric into a bamboo pole that is erected to the right side of their homes, while men choose their fattest, juiciest pigs to delight the palate of the gods and the friends and family who come visit.
Visitors are always welcome to join in the celebrations. In fact, it's a Balinese tradition to gladly receive people from foreign countries. But it is also important to comprehend the spirit that moves every lively festival. Have a look at some of the largest holidays that the inhabitants of Bali celebrate each year.
Melasti . On the day before the Balinese New Year, the locals dress in their best clothes and march to the ocean or the inland springs, carrying with them colorful umbrellas, woven containers of fruits and flowers and other offerings to honour the powerful waters of the sea. They also carry the 3 holy statues, Arca, Pratima and Pralingga and clean them with seawater while the men, women and children cheer and dance for joy to the music of the gamelan. After dark, on the eve of the New Year, the Balinese assemble on the streets to observe a purification ritual in the form of a parade of ogoh-ogoh, huge monster dolls that symbolize the malignant spirits that annual visit the island.
Nyepi . The Balinese New Year is a day of silence, meditation and, for some, fasting. Everybody is expected to remain in and do some self-examination after the commotion raised in the prior day's celebrations. No fires are lit and no indulgences are sated. Even holiday makers are asked to stay inside their hotels on this day. All businesses even the lone Balinese airport, are closed and the hotels may provide limited service. It is thought the noxious spirits that have stayed in Bali will mistake the silent island for an empty island and will so flee, making way for a fresh, new start for the incoming year.
Odalan . An odalan is a temple holiday that usually lasts three days to a week. People celebrate odalan for one thing only-to entertain the deities to whom these temples were built. The temples are decorated with palms leaves, flowers and towers made of bamboo on the day before the official start of the odalan. The festival often starts with a meditative prayer known as a muspa and is followed by the throwing of rice and holy water by the high priest. Later, it is pure spectacular merrymaking from there, with a lot of dancing, feasting and parading on the streets.
Galungan. Galungan is the most important day of the Balinese calendar, as it is assumed the gods and the spirits of their ancestors come back down to earth on this day and celebrate with them the victory of Good (Dharma) over Evil (Adharma). It is like Christmas in the Western parts of the globe. Women make preparations for this important day a month before it comes, weaving intricate patterns of coconut leaves, flowers and brightly-coloured fabric into a bamboo pole that is erected to the right side of their homes, while men choose their fattest, juiciest pigs to delight the palate of the gods and the friends and family who come visit.
About the Author:
Salim B Kho enjoys travelling and providing info on the locations he visits to benefit other travelers. For more information about enjoying Bali, please visit Salim's Facebook page.
