Celebrating the victory of good against evil in Bali
Every year, the Balinese celebrate the day of Galungan. It commemorates the creation of the universe, the victory of the good, Dharma, against the evil, Adharma. This year, the celebration starts on Monday, 22 July with the actual Galungan day and ends on Saturday, 3 August with the Kuningan celebration. Galungan enlivens the whole island of Bali and marks the beginning of the Pawukon year.
The celebration takes place in the familial temples. The women are in charge of preparing the cakes that will be used as offerings. And the men are in charge of the decoration with bamboo, palm leaves, coconut shoots and the festive dinner.
Religiously, Galungan marks the beginning of the most important recurring ceremonies. For Balinese, the spirits of deceased relatives who have died and been cremated return to visit their former homes, and the current inhabitants have a responsibility to be hospitable through prayers and offerings.Â
If you are visiting Bali, you can enjoy the actual festivities during your holidays in every village. You will be immersed into the Balinese culture and discover all the rituals of the celebration. It is also the best time to try Balinese food, while local restaurants offer special yummy native dishes.Â
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