Today we celebrated Christmas Balinese style, or should I say Galungan. It marks the beginning of the most important festival in Balinese tradition, Galungan, meaning “when the Dharma is winning.” During the holiday, the Balinese gods visit the earth and leave on Kuningan, the last day of Galungan.
On the Wednesday (this event falls only on a Wednesday), locals often return to the house they grew up in to make offerings to the gods and to their family ancestors who are believed to return to the family temple during the holiday. It is therefore no surprise that the whole of Bali comes to a complete standstill as families take part in the colorful festivities.
It’s a very exciting time to visit Bali, as the streets are decorated with traditional penjors and vibrant cloths, and there is a special something in the air as families busily prepare for the celebration. The festival occurs every 210 days, and its closest western parallel is Christmas. You’d be forgiven for thinking the Balinese, like us, may leave a mince pie and note for Santa and stuff down rum-drenched puddings, wearing paper hats and play scrabble over left-overs. Quite the opposite is true of Galungan, the day starts early in the morning, and instead of pudding, a sacrificial pig is set alight. The day ends with prayer and offerings to the gods and deceased ancestors; hardly reminiscent of our Western traditions.
Surf Haven Bali decided to get involved and have some fun with the ancient tradition, and took our guests to spend a morning immersed in Balinese culture at a local celebration at the biggest temple on the beach in Seminyak.
The result was stunning as guests sported traditional Balinese costume, and were blessed with hundreds of colourful petals and holy water, by Illuh, a local Balinese priestess. Windchimes sounded as the balmy sea breeze whispered through palm trees overhead, and Balinese families walked proud in their Sunday best, with incense and offerings for the gods.
Don’t worry if you missed out this time, the Balinese social calendar is overflowing with amazing excuses to drop everything and dive into a foreign culture for the day, for more information on the Balinese festival calendar, click here: http://www.balicalendar.com
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