|
|
|
|
| |
This lunar calendar is based
around the cycle of new and full moons - auspicious occasions
and ceremony nights for the Balinese. While most Balinese
households make daily ritual offerings, there are certain
special days of convergence on the Balinese calendar that
require elaborate prayers and offerings to be made to
God.
Keep an eye out for full moon ceremonies, as they are
often grandiose and extremely colourful affairs –
definitely Kodak moments. As temple ceremonies (odalan)
often fall on the full moon, it is likely that the celebration
will be a large one, attracting thousands of worshippers
who make their way to the temple balancing towers of fruit
and sweet cakes on their heads.
Balinese families will be dressed in their best temple
garb on these days - special, joyous occasions filled
with prayer, gamelan music, dance, and catching up with
friends and family.
|
|
The Balinese are exceedingly
tolerant and visitors are always welcome to enter the
temples and witness the proceedings. It is important,
however, that you wear the appropriate temple dress and
observe Balinese etiquette. Your DMC or hotel can instruct
you about this and provide you with further details.
As Bali is a multi-cultural society, the holy days of
Moslems, Christians and Buddhists are all observed, and
on certain days throughout the year you will see worshippers
visiting the mosques, churches and temples across the
island. With the exception of the Hindu day of silence
(Nyepi) when everything in Bali closes down for a 24-hour
period, you will still find many restaurants, shops, and
businesses open on public holidays.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
| JANUARY |
| January 1 |
New Year’s Day |
 |
| Celebrated in Bali, as
it is the world round. |
 |
| January 3 |
Full Moon |
 |
|
| January 20 |
Islamic New Year |
|
|
| |
| FEBRUARY |
| February 2 |
Full Moon |
|
|
| February 17 |
Tumpek Kandang |
|
| A day to honour Sang Hyang
Rare Angon, the guardian of all cattle and livestock,
all household animals are blessed, comforted and
well fed on this day. |
|
| February 18 |
Chinese New Year |
|
| A day celebrated by Bali’s
residents of Chinese descent with family gatherings
and prayers at one of the many Chinese temples in
Bali. |
|
| |
| MARCH |
| March 3 |
Full Moon |
|
|
| March 16 |
Pekiyisan
|
|
Beautiful handcrafted
effigies are carried in parade from local temples
to Bali’s
beaches, particularly in Sanur and Kuta, and tossed
into the ocean. Held in the
early morning, this ceremony marks the beginning
of Nyepi, three days hence.
|
|
| March 18 |
Tawur Agung Kesanga
|
|
| Island-wide, sacrificial
ceremonies are held to welcome the coming of Nyepi.
Evening parades accompanied by baleganjur orchestras
commence from the community centres (banjar) and
usually lead to a central meeting place to mark
the start of a night of festivities. Ogoh-Ogoh,
huge papier maché monster-like dolls on floats are
paraded in the streets to exorcise evil spirits,
preparing the way for the purity and serenity that
awaits on Nyepi day. A special Perang Api (fire
war) to welcome Nyepi is held at Jasi Village, Karangasem. |
| |
 |
| |
|
| March 19 |
Nyepi
|
|
| Happy New Year 1929 according
to the Balinese Calendar. This is a day of absolute
silence observed throughout the island when no outside
activity is performed, no traffic is seen on the
streets, no fires are lit - a day when all of Bali
resembles a ghost town and even the airport is closed.
This is a day of introspection for Hindu followers
who spend the day behind closed doors, with non-Hindus
following suit as a sign of respect. Hotel guests
are required to stay within their hotel grounds.
|
| |
 |
| |
| March 24 |
Tumpek Wayang
|
|
| Theatrical groups and
puppeteers from all over the island hold ceremonies
(performance are forbidden) to pay homage to the
shadow puppet theatre. Sacred, heirloom, leather
puppets, dance costumes and masks are taken from
their storage boxes, sprinkled with holy water or
rice, then solemnly re-consecrated. |
|
| March 31 |
Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday
|
|
|
|
| |
| APRIL |
| April 2 |
Full Moon
|
|
|
| April 6 |
Good Friday |
|
| The death of Jesus Christ
is remembered on this day. |
|
| April 8 |
Easter Sunday
|
|
| After a church service
at sunrise, many of Bali’s Christians visit the
cemetery to pay their respects to departed loved
ones. |
|
| April 14 |
Saraswati
|
|
| A day devoted to Sang
Hyang Saraswati, goddess of all knowledge and learning.
The last day of the 210-day Balinese calendar cycle,
the day when blessings are made for Holy Scriptures,
literature and all tools of learning. Offerings
are made to books and libraries on this day but,
ironically, it’s forbidden to read on Saraswati. |
|
| April 18 |
Pagerwesi
|
|
| Literally ‘the day of
the iron fences’ Pagerwesi is devoted to Sang Hyang
Pramesti Guru, guardian of the universe. Celebrated
in every home compound and temple throughout Bali,
Pagerwesi is a popular time for large and colourful
temple ceremonies, notably at Payogan Agung Temple
in Ketewel |
|
| April 28 |
Tumpek Landep
|
|
| A day of devotion to Sang
Hyang Pasupati and Siwa, the guardians of all things
made of metal. Weapons, craftsmen’s tools, motorcycles,
cars and buses will all have prayers and offerings
made on their behalf on this day. Look for the cars
and buses with elaborate palm leaf decorations tied
to their front grills. They’ve just been blessed! |
|
| |
| MAY |
| May 1 |
Full Moon |
|
|
| May 17 |
Ascension Day |
|
| Christ’s ascension is
celebrated by communion in Christian Churches. |
|
| May 31 |
Full Moon |
|
|
| |
| JUNE |
| June 1 |
Waisak
|
|
| The annual Buddhist celebration
marking the Buddha’s birth, death and a day of enlightenment
when many of the faithful visit Bali’s Buddhist
monasteries. |
|
| June 2 |
Tumpek Unduh
|
|
Devoted to Sang Hyang
Sangkara, the guardian of all vegetation. Ceremonies
are
held in every village to ensure God’s blessing
on their crops. |
|
| June 24 |
Bali International Triathlon
|
|
|
| June 27 |
Galungan
|
|
| This 7-monthly ceremony
is observed across the island to celebrate the victory
of virtue over evil. Every street is decorated with
tall brightly decorated bamboo poles (penjor) to
offering thanks to God for the fruits of the Earth.
Balinese return to their ancestral villages to repair,
clean and bless their family temples in the belief
that deceased members of their clan return to earth
for the next ten days to dwell briefly again with
their kin. Temple ceremonies occur on this day also,
and it is an opportune time to witness some gamelan
and dance in a traditional setting. |
| |
 |
| |
|
| June 29 |
Full Moon |
|
|
| June - July |
Twenty-eight Annual Bali Arts Festival |
|
| |
| JULY |
| July 7 |
Kuningan |
|
| Celebrated
ten days after Galungan marking the return of ancestral
spirits and deities to heaven. Special offerings
of yellow rice and assorted side dishes are offered
to the spirit world. |
|
|
| Homes and temples are
festooned with ornaments made of young coconut leaves
and flowers. Large temple ceremonies are held in
many villages, notably in Mas at Taman Pule Temple
and on Turtle Island (Serangan) at Sakenan Temple. |
| |
| July 29 |
Full Moon
|
|
|
| Late July |
Bali Festival of Kites in Sanur |
|
| |
 |
| |
| AUGUST |
| Early August |
Tanah Lot Kite Festival
|
|
|
| August 11 |
Isra’ Mi’raj
Nabi Muhammad S.A.W
|
|
| Celebrates the night journey
of the prophet. |
|
| August 11 |
Tumpek Klurut |
|
| The day for objects which
produce a sound, traditional gamelan instruments
are cleaned, decorated and blessed. Many music clubs
also gather to pray for artistic inspiration and
share food together. |
|
| August 17 |
Indonesian Independence
Day |
|
| Celebrated with speeches,
ceremonies and games in villages and cities across
the island and throughout Indonesia. In particular,
the night comes alive at the Puputan Square in Denpasar
with interesting gamelan and dance performances. |
|
| Late August |
Sanur Village Festival |
|
|
| August 27 |
Full Moon |
|
|
| |
| SEPTEMBER |
| September 1-9 |
Kuta Karnival 2007 |
|
| Street parades, fun fairs
and bazaars and sporting events. |
|
| September 9-17 |
Wismilak International
WTA Tennis Tournament |
|
| In terms of prize money,
this is the biggest WTA tournament in Southeast
Asia, drawing players and tennis journalists from
around the world. Held in Nusa Dua. |
 |
| |
| September 15 |
Tumpek Kandang |
|
| A day to honour Sang Hyang
Rare Angon, the guardian of all cattle and livestock,
all household animals are blessed, comforted and
well fed on this day. |
|
| September 26 |
Full Moon |
|
|
| September 30-October
3 |
Ubud Writers & Readers
Festival
|
|
| A celebration of literature
including seminars, workshops and discourses with
the participation of prize-winning authors from
around the world held in various locations around
Ubud. Workshops start September 28. |
|
| |
| OCTOBER |
| October |
Bali Governor’s
Cup Golf Tournament
|
|
| An anticipated 300-350
golfers compete in this tournament which will run
simultaneously at all the island’s three main courses
Bali Golf & Country Club, Bali Handara Kosaido Country
Club and Nirwana Golf & Country Club. Participating
golfers will be eligible for attractive lucky draws
and other prizes. The overall winner will walk away
with the prestigious Governor’s Cup presented by
Bali’s chief executive. |
|
| October 13-14 |
Idul Fitri |
|
| A two-day celebration
of the end of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan
which marks the start of the New Year. Purified
by their fasts, Bali’s Moslems begin the New Year
by calling on friends and family and asking them
for forgiveness for any past misdeeds or slights. |
|
| October 20 |
Tumpek Wayang |
|
| Theatrical groups and
puppeteers from all over the island hold ceremonies
(performance are forbidden) to pay homage to the
shadow puppet theatre. Sacred, heirloom, leather
puppets, dance costumes and masks are taken from
their storage boxes, sprinkled with holy water or
rice, then solemnly re-consecrated. |
|
| October 25 |
Full Moon
|
|
|
| Fall |
Bali Fashion Week |
|
| |
 |
| |
| NOVEMBER |
| November 10 |
Saraswati |
|
| A day devoted to Sang
Hyang Saraswati, goddess of all knowledge and learning.
The last day of the 210-day Balinese calendar cycle,
the day when blessings are made for Holy Scriptures,
literature and all tools of learning. Offerings
are made to books and libraries on this day but,
ironically, it’s forbidden to read on Saraswati. |
|
| November 14 |
Pagerwesi |
|
| Literally ‘the day of
the iron fences’ Pagerwesi is devoted to Sang Hyang
Pramesti Guru, guardian of the universe. Celebrated
in every home compound and temple throughout Bali,
Pagerwesi is a popular time for large and colourful
temple ceremonies, notably at Payogan Agung Temple
in Ketewel. |
| |
 |
| |
|
| November 24 |
Full Moon |
|
|
| November 24 |
Tumpek Landep |
|
| A day of devotion to Sang
Hyang Pasupati and Siwa, the guardians of all things
made of metal. Weapons, craftsmen’s tools, motorcycles,
cars and buses will all have prayers and offerings
made on their behalf on this day. Look for the cars
and buses with elaborate palm leaf decorations tied
to their front grills. They’ve just been blessed! |
|
| |
| DECEMBER |
| December 20 |
Idul Adha 1428 |
|
|
| December 24 |
Full Moon |
|
|
| December 25 |
Christmas Day |
|
| Celebrated by Bali’s
Christians in Protestant and Roman Catholic churches
Bali’s hotels are decorated for the day and
many present music of the season sung by children’s
choirs. |
|
| December 29 |
Tumpek Uduh |
|
Devoted to Sang Hyang
Sangkara, the guardian of all vegetation. Ceremonies
are
held in every village to ensure God’s blessing
on their crops. |
| |
|
Full Moon |
|
Public Holiday |
|
|
| |
|
