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> The Cycle of Galungan and Kuningan Celebration |
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| The Cycle of Galungan
and Kuningan Celebration |
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| Galungan is a Balinese holiday that
occurs every 210 days and lasts for 10 days. Kuningan
is the last day of the holiday. Following are the
details of days that lead up to the celebration
of Galungan and Kuningan. |
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| Sugian Jawa (Wrespathi
Wage Sungsang) |
| Six days before Galungan Day which
falls on Thursday (Wrespathi).
It is the day to purify ‘Bhuwana
Agung’ (bhuwana
means world; agung means big), the day when
Gods and Goddesses accompanied by holy ancestral
spirits (pitara) come down to earth to bless the
universe. On this day, Pengerebon offering and puspa
wewangian (fragrance flowers)
are dedicated to the Gods and holy ancestral spirits
in the family shrines. |
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| Sugian Bali (Sukra
Keliwon Sungsang) |
| Five days before Galungan Day which
falls on Friday (Sukra).
It is the day to purify ‘Bhuwana
Alit’ (alit means
small) or human’s body and soul. During
this day, Balinese people purify themselves by praying
and concentrating minds to God Almighty. On this
day, it is suggested to visit temples for praying
and learning more deeply about the holy book of
Weda. |
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| Saniscara Umanis Sungsang |
| Four days before Galungan Day which
falls on Saturday (Saniscara).
It is the day to prepare the celebration of Galungan
Day, the day to prepare mentally and physically
in peace, patience, alertness and devotion. On this
day, the women usually make ‘banten’
(offering made of young coconut
leaves, flowers, and others). |
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| Penyekeban / Penapean (Redite
Pahing Dungulan) |
Three days before Galungan Day which
falls on Sunday (Redite).
It is the day when Balinese people start meditation
(yoga semadhi). It
is believed that on this day, Sang Kala Tiga Wisesa
or Bhuta Galungan is around humans to seduce them
to do bad things.
This day is called ‘Penyekeban’
because on this day, people start to make cakes
and keep the banana to be used as offerings on Galungan
Day. The word ‘penyekeban’
is derived from ‘sekeb’
which means ‘keep’.
This day is also called ‘Penapean’
which is derived from ‘tape’.
On this day, the women make ‘tape’,
a typical food for Galungan celebration, which is
made of slightly fermented rice or tubers. |
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| Penyajaan Galungan (Soma Pon Dungulan)
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| Two days before Galungan Day which
falls on Monday (Soma).
The word ‘Penyajaan’
is derived from ‘jaja’
which means ‘cake’.
On this day, various cakes in shapes and colors
are made for offerings. |
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| Penampahan (Anggara
Wage Dungulan) |
One day before Galungan Day which
falls on Tuesday (Anggara).
The word ‘Penampahan’
is derived from ‘tampah’
which means ‘slaughter’.
It is the day when people slaughter their bad behaviors,
bad thoughts, bad manners and bad words which is
symbolized by slaughtering animals for offerings,
mostly pig.
It is believed that the hardest seduction from Bhuta
Amangkurat occurs on this day. Therefore, Bhuta
Yadnya (holy sacrifice)
is done for the harmonic balance between the visible
and the invisible world.
On this day, people also should make ‘penjor’,
a bamboo pole beautifully decorated by young coconut
leaves and various ornaments. It is put up in front
of every house and building, symbolizing the great
Mount Agung, and the presence of God Almighty. Various
leaves, plantations, crops, fruits and traditional
cakes in diverse shapes and colors beautify the
bamboo pole which means that every element of the
world is represented in ‘penjor’.
It also shows the gratitude upon God Almighty because
all things available on earth come from God. |
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| Galungan (Buda
Keliwon Dungulan) |
| Galungan Day, which falls on Wednesday
(Buda), is a joyful
day to celebrate the victory of goodness (dharma)
against evil (adharma).
On this day, offerings and praying are made to God
and holy ancestral spirits who come down to earth.
People who live in the city usually go to their
hometown to visit their family and the elders. |
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| Umanis Galungan (Wrespati
Umanis Galungan) |
One day after Galungan Day which
falls on Thursday (Wrespati).
It is the celebration day, the day to enjoy the
blessings. The offerings are taken out from the
shrines and the people may enjoy the offerings of
fruits and cakes. It is also the day to visit family,
relatives or friends, to apologize for anything
that may went wrong as well as to forgive others’
mistakes.
In some areas in Bali, there is a tradition of ‘ngelawang’
(art performance around village)
which usually features ‘barong
ket’ or ‘barong
landung’. |
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| Pahing Galungan (Sukra
Pahing Dungulan) |
| Two days after Galungan Day which
falls on Friday (Sukra).
It is the day when Balinese people are still in
alert with pure heart. During this day, people pray
in temples or family shrines. |
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| Pamaridan Guru (Saniscara
Pon Dungulan) |
| Three days after Galungan Day which
falls on Saturday (Saniscara).
It is the day when Gods and Goddess return to heaven,
accompanied by the holy ancestral spirits (pitara).
It is the day when God bestows prosperity to mankind.
On this day, Balinese people do tirtha yatra (visit
to temples), making offerings and prayers. |
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| Ulihan (Redite
Wage Kuningan) |
| Four days after Galungan which falls
on Sunday (Redite).
It is the day when Balinese people honor the holy
ancestral spirits (pitara)
who has left earth and continue their duty to fight
for the truth (dharma).
On this day, people concentrate their mind to God
Almighty and to holy ancestral spirits, asking for
blessing and keeping away from disasters or bad
things. |
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| Pemacekan Agung (Soma
Keliwon Kuningan) |
| Five days after Galungan Day or
five days before Kuningan Day which falls on Monday
(Soma). The word ‘pemacekan’
is derived from 'pacek'
which means the middle. On this day, Balinese people
are in the middle of the purity of the heart. It
is the day to pray for good will and the purity
of the heart. As this day is considered as the highlight
of holiness, Segehan Agung (big
offering) is put in front of the main gate.
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| Anggara Umanis Kuningan |
| Four days before Kuningan Day which
falls on Tuesday (Anggara).
It is the day when Balinese people do various preparations
for the upcoming Kuningan Day. |
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| Pujawali Bhatara Wisnu (Buda
Pahing Kuningan) |
| Three days before Kuningan Day which
falls on Wednesday (Buda).
It is the day when the protector of the universe,
God Wisnu, comes down to earth. On this day, Balinese
people worship God Wisnu, the Great Preserver of
the Universe, for the protection of the world. |
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| Penyajaan Kuningan (Wrespati
Pon Kuningan) |
| Two days before Kuningan Day which
falls on Thursday (Wrespati).
It is a preparation day for Kuningan. |
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| Penampahan Kuningan (Sukra
Wage Kuningan) |
| One day before Kuningan Day which
falls on Friday (Sukra).
It is the day to do various preparations especially
the offerings for the religious celebration of Kuningan
Day. |
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| Tumpek Kuningan (Saniscara
Kliwon Kuningan) |
Kuningan, which falls on Saturday
(Saniscara), is the
day when Gods and Goddesses accompanied by the holy
ancestral spirits (pitara)
come down to earth again to bless the people and
the universe. It is believed that they will return
to heaven in the midday.
On this day, Balinese people do self-introspection
by doing a meditation for human's prosperity. Segehan
Agung (big offering)
is put on the house yard and offerings for the family
members are also served. |
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| Pegat Wakan (Buda
Kliwon Pahang) |
| This day is the end of meditation
that has been done for 42 days since Sugian Jawa.
On this day, Balinese people dedicate sesayut dirghayusa
and penyeneng offerings to the Supreme God, Hyang
Widhi Wasa. Penjors in front of houses or buildings
are put down, and then burned. |
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