At any point in the year, the people of Bali are highly likely celebrating one of the many festivals that are spread throughout their wuku calendar. Balinese celebrations are largely defined by the people's spiritual beliefs and religious practices. They center around the various Hindu gods and demigods, the souls of their forefathers and the deities of harvest that nourish the earth that provides their food. They can involve animal sacrifices, decorated temples, parades to the sea, the booming of the gamelan, nights of atonement, delightful feasts and entire days of silence.
Tourists are always welcome to join in the festivities. In fact, it's a Balinese characteristic to willingly receive folks from foreign countries. But it's also important to comprehend the spirit that moves each and every colorful festival. Have a quick look at some of the most important festivals the inhabitants of Bali celebrate every year.
Melasti . On the day before the Balinese New Year, the locals get dressed up in their finest garments and parade to the sea or the inland springs, taking with them decorative umbrellas, woven containers of fruits and flowers and other offerings to honour the mighty waters of the sea. They also carry the 3 holy statues, Arca, Pratima and Pralingga and wash them with seawater while the men, women and children shout and dance for joy to the music of the gamelan. After dark, on the eve of the New Year, the Balinese come together on the streets to look at a purification ritual in the form of a parade of ogoh-ogoh, huge monster dolls that symbolize the malignant spirits that yearly visit the island.
Nyepi . The Balinese New Year is a day of silence, meditation and, for some, fasting. Everyone is expected to remain inside and do some self-examination after the ruckus raised during the previous day's parties. No fires are lit and no indulgences are sated. Even tourists are asked to remain in their hotels during this day. All businesses even the lone Balinese airport, are closed and the hostels may provide limited service. It is thought the malicious spirits that have taken up abode in Bali will mistake the silent island for an uninhabited island and will so leave, making way for a fresh, new start for the incoming year.
Odalan . An odalan is a temple festival that usually lasts 3 days to a week. Locals celebrate odalan for one thing only-to entertain the deities to whom these temples were built. The churches are decorated with palms leaves, flowers and towers made of bamboo on the day before the official start of the odalan. The holiday typically starts with a meditative prayer known generally 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 lots of dancing, feasting and parading on the streets.
Galungan. Galungan is the most significant day of the Balinese calendar, as it is thought that 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 cloth into a bamboo pole that's set up to the right side of their houses, while men pick their fattest, juiciest pigs to delight the palate of the gods and the friends and family who come to visit.
Tourists are always welcome to join in the festivities. In fact, it's a Balinese characteristic to willingly receive folks from foreign countries. But it's also important to comprehend the spirit that moves each and every colorful festival. Have a quick look at some of the most important festivals the inhabitants of Bali celebrate every year.
Melasti . On the day before the Balinese New Year, the locals get dressed up in their finest garments and parade to the sea or the inland springs, taking with them decorative umbrellas, woven containers of fruits and flowers and other offerings to honour the mighty waters of the sea. They also carry the 3 holy statues, Arca, Pratima and Pralingga and wash them with seawater while the men, women and children shout and dance for joy to the music of the gamelan. After dark, on the eve of the New Year, the Balinese come together on the streets to look at a purification ritual in the form of a parade of ogoh-ogoh, huge monster dolls that symbolize the malignant spirits that yearly visit the island.
Nyepi . The Balinese New Year is a day of silence, meditation and, for some, fasting. Everyone is expected to remain inside and do some self-examination after the ruckus raised during the previous day's parties. No fires are lit and no indulgences are sated. Even tourists are asked to remain in their hotels during this day. All businesses even the lone Balinese airport, are closed and the hostels may provide limited service. It is thought the malicious spirits that have taken up abode in Bali will mistake the silent island for an uninhabited island and will so leave, making way for a fresh, new start for the incoming year.
Odalan . An odalan is a temple festival that usually lasts 3 days to a week. Locals celebrate odalan for one thing only-to entertain the deities to whom these temples were built. The churches are decorated with palms leaves, flowers and towers made of bamboo on the day before the official start of the odalan. The holiday typically starts with a meditative prayer known generally 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 lots of dancing, feasting and parading on the streets.
Galungan. Galungan is the most significant day of the Balinese calendar, as it is thought that 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 cloth into a bamboo pole that's set up to the right side of their houses, while men pick their fattest, juiciest pigs to delight the palate of the gods and the friends and family who come to visit.
About the Author:
Salim B Kho enjoys travelling and providing information on the locations he visits for the sake of other travelers. For more information about enjoying Bali, please visit Salim's Facebook page.