Festivals and Special Events in Bali

Festivals are important features of Balinese life. Most of these ceremonies occur on fixed dates within the Balinese calendar that is based upon a cycle 210 day. Some of these festivals are anniversary celebrations of temples. Many are life cycle ceremonies that begin at conception and continue at major stages of an individual’s life, ending only with his cremation and subsequent installation as a defined ancestor in his family temple.

The provincial government of bali tries to maintain and preserve every aspect of Balinese cultural life by sponsoring annual festival that emphasize the importance of the arts. The known of these events is the Bali art Festival that held mid jun to mid july each year. The art festivalfeaturing exhibitions of various kinds, cultural achievement, a kite festival, and many other activities.

Galungan and Kuningan
Galungan is the most impotant holiday. This symbolizes the victory of virtue (dharma) over evil (adharma). On Galungan every family puts a “Penjor” a tall bamboo pole, placed on the right side of the entrance to the house compound. Each penjor is decorated with woven coconut leaves, fruit, cakes, flowers and other the gifts of nature. People attire themselves in their finest traditional clothing and jewels to wear to their temple and over thanks.
Kuningan holyday takes place ten day after Galungan, brighing the holyday period to a close. On this day, special ritual ceremonies are held for the ancestral spirits.

Nyepi

This important day is the Balinese Lunar New Year called “Saka” New Year. It is a day of total silent throught the island. No physical activity is allowed, there can no be traffic at all on the roads, no fire may be lit and no amusement held all day long untilnext morning. Great purification and sacrificial rites are held the day before Nyepi so as to exorcize evil spirits from every corner of the village. Nyepi falls on the first day after the new moon closest to the march equinox, usually in March to early April.

Saraswati
This day is devoted to God’s manifestations as Dewi Saraswati, the beautiful Goddes of knowledge, Manuscripts the Wedas are blessed and special offerings are made for them.Pagerwesi
The name literally means “iron fence”, on this day ceremonies and prayers are held for strong mental and spiritual defence in welcoming the Galungan holiday.