types of galungan

Taken from : http://blog.baliwww.com/religion/473/
posted on manis galungan
Galungan
For Balinese, Galungan is always full of joy. Galungan is celebrated by Balinese as the victory of virtue (DHARMA) upon evil (ADHARMA) when the entire island brightened with festivities and ceremony. On the Galungan day, most Balinese will return to their own ancestral home at some stage during the day, even if they work in another part of the island. Balinese believe that on this day family ancestors come back to rest in respective family temple. Failed to attend the ceremony in his / her family temple will be a great shame for Balinese. As well as the family temple, visits are made to the village temple with offerings as well.

Based on Purana Bali Dwipa (Old History of Bali Island) Scripture, the first Galungan ceremony was celebrated in 882 AD, the celebration was held regularly (every 210 days) for three centuries. In 1181 AD the Galungan ceremony was banned with no apparent reason. The banned was lifted in 1204 AD in the reign of King Jayakasunu. In the period when Galungan was banned, Bali was stormed by plagues and disasters. King Jayakasunu lifted the ban and restored the former prosperity of Bali.


The celebration of Galungan can be divided into three types: Galungan (Ordinary Galungan), Galungan Nadi (Grand Galungan), and Galungan Nara Mangsa (Forbidden Galungan).

The ordinary Galungan is celebrated every 210 days on Wednesday Kliwon Dungulan (based on Pawukon cycle calendar). The Galungan Nadi (Grand Galungan) is celebrated when Galungan happen together with full moon. The Galungan Nadi (Grand Galungan) ceremony is much bigger than ordinary Galungan in term offering and decorations. The Galungan Nadi (Grand Galungan) occurs every ten years. Galungan Nara Mangsa (Forbidden Galungan) occurs when Galungan happen together with new moon. The term Nara Mangsa equivalent with “man eaters” in English, and “Galungan Nara Mangsa” can be translated roughly into “the victory of evil”. There is no celebration in Galungan Nara Mangsa (Forbidden Galungan), no penjor (tall-artistically-decorated-bamboo-poles) and of course, no offering.

understanding balinese calendar

Calendopaedia - The Balinese Pawukon Calendar
taken from : http://www.geocities.com/calendopaedia/balinese.htm

The Balinese have two different calendars, the Sashi (or Saka), which is a lunar calendar based on a year consisting of 12 lunar months where each month starts on the day which follows the new moon, and the Pawukon calendar, which is the subject of this page. Both calendars have their roots in ancient Java calendars.
The Pawukon Calendar is in daily use in Bali and can cause confusion among visitors to the country. It is used to set the dates for religious and ceremonial events. However other events are set according to the Gregorian Calendar and others to the Sashi calendar mentioned above.
The Pawukon Calendar consists of a period (or year) of 210 days called the Pawukon. This in turn is made up of ten cycles running concurrently. These are cycles of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 days. Each day is named after its position in each cycle and thus has a name made up of ten parts. In practice three cycles are considered more important than the others and they have the greatest influence on life. They are the cycles of 3, 5 and 7 days.
The three day cycle(Triwara) is used to set market days, which vary from village to village, but will all be held every three days. When the five day (Pancawara) and seven day (Saptawara) cycles coincide (every 35 days) this is celebrated as a special day. Other special days occur when the last day of the three day cycle coincides with the last day of the five day cycle (every 15 days) and when the six and seven day cycles coincide (every 42 days). The seven day cycle is used to govern the weeks, and is the most important, which is helpful as users of the Gregorian calendar are used to seven day cycles. The year is thus made up of 30 of these seven day weeks, or wuku.
Names given to the days of the three popular cycles
3 day cycleTriwara : Pasah Gunung TegehKajeng
5 day cycle Pancawara : Umanis Paing Pon Wage Keliwon
7 day cycleSaptawara : Redite (= Sunday) Coma (= Monday) Anggara (= Tuesday) Buda (= Wednesday) Wraspati (= Thursday) Sukra (= Friday) Saniscara (= Saturday)

Now just to make things a bit more interesting let me explain that another cycle exists which gives the Pawukon calendar the concept of months. The month (bulan) is made up of 35 days, or five weeks. This means that there are six months in one year. These are not normally shown on the calendar but are important for celebrating birthdays and stages in growing up. The Balinese celebrate their birthday according to the 210 year cycles as well as according to the Gregorian calendar. However the Pawukon birthday is a private event and does not involve a party or presents.

Balinese Calendars

Balinese Calendars
The Balinese use two calendar systems, the Hindu Çaka and their own Pawukon. Like most Balinese culture, the Pawukon is very rich and intricate. It's based on ten concurrent weeks, which have one to ten days (although the one-day week is really a copy of the two-day week with only one day named). To confuse matters, only the three-day, five-day, six-day and seven-day weeks run regularly: the others are derived in various ways. The whole system repeats every 210 days: these 210 days are divided into thirty named cycles of the seven-day week. There are various other cycles and holy days defined on top of this. Most of this you can find specified in volume I of Bali: Sekala & Niskala, by Fred B. Eiseman Jr. I had a copy, but unfortunately I lost it while moving.
I visited Bali in 1988 and 1994: each time I brought back paper calendars. I've scanned as much of the January page of the 1994 calendar as will fit on my scanner: I also have an enlargement of the top-right corner, showing detail.
Each calendar consists of thirteen 12.5"x19" sheets of thin paper, bound at the top by metal, with a small bend-out hanger. The months a printed on the front of the first twelve sheets. All text is in Indonesian, except for certain names used in various calendars.
Each month-page is laid out for the Gregorian system, and each day shows the date in the Islamic, Chinese & Hindu Çaka systems, the moon age, the days of the various Pawukon weeks, and other information which I don't understand. Sundays and holidays are marked in red, or with a red ring, and new and full moons are marked with black and red circular blobs.
Beneath and to the right of the main calendar grid are explanations of festivals and holy days of the Balinese, Hindu, Islamic, Christian and other traditions, as well as founding-anniversary (210 day cycle) festivals of the more important temples in Bali, auspicious days for various activities, and more information which I don't understand. At the top is listed year and month information for vaious calendric systems. In the empty grid space is a picture of the creator, I Ketut Bangbang Gede Rawi, and at the bottom of the page is the name and address of, presumably, his company: 'T.U. Warta Hindu Dharma, Jalan Nangka 23 Denpasar Bali Telp. 22156'.
The back of the twelfth sheet, and both sides of the last sheet, have yet more information, tabulated according to the Roman horoscope, the thirty named seven-day week-cycles, the 35 combinations of the five-day and seven weeks, and apparently as an alphabetical definition of terms.
Semantics
ashley@semantic.org

tabel rerainan

http://www.babadbali.com/piodalan/tabel.htm

Pembagian hari - hari raya di Bali

Pembagian hari - hari raya di Bali
Petunjuk mengenai hari-hari raya dan saat-saat suci diperoleh dari ajaran Sundari Gama. Dalam ajaran itu disebutkan bahwa Sang Hyang Suksma Litjin memerintahkan kepada para purohita (orang-orang suci) agar mengingatkan para pemegang tampuk kekuasaan, agar ia, dan dengan kuasanya memerintahkan segenap bawahannya, mengadakan yadnya, atau upacara persembahan pada hari-hari dan saat-saat tertentu. Persembahan itu disebut bebantenan atau widhi-widhana, sebagai perwujudan darma dalam menjaga kesejahteraan dunia dan kebahagiaan segenap makhluk. Hari-hari yang dicatat sebagai ketetapan itu diyakini telah disucikan oleh Ida Sang Hyang Widhi sebagai waktu-waktu yang tepat untuk menjaga hubungan ciptaan dan sang maha penciptanya. Penyampaian cinta kasih beliau yang selalu melimpahkan sinar terang kepada akal budi manusia, anugerah yang tak terbatas bagi kehidupan serta bimbingan yang abadi kepada kelestarian ciptaannya. Melalui yadnya, segenap manusia pada saat itu hendaknya menyampaikan rasa sukur dan hormat melalui pengurbanan dan persembahan yang terbaik kepada beliau yang maha suci.
Untuk memudahkan penjelasan saat-saat suci atau rerahinan itu, kita kelompokkan keseluruhannya dalam cara sebagai berikut:
1
Yadnya yang dilakukan tiap hari.
2
Yadnya yang dilakukan pada Triwara dengan Pancawara tertentu.
3
Yadnya yang dilakukan pada Saptawara dan Pancawara tertentu.
4
Yadnya yang dilakukan pada Wuku tertentu. Secara keseluruhan, lihat tabel.
5
Yadnya yang dilakukan pada sasih tertentu antara lain Nyepi dan Siwa Ratri.
Hari raya yang dirayakan bersama oleh seluruh umat disebut Rerahinan Gumi. Masih banyak lagi hari raya yang dirayakan hanya oleh beberapa keluarga pada hari-hari tertentu untuk di pura dan parhyangan masing-masing.
Hakikat dari perayaan hari-hari raya itu, suasana dan kesungguhan hati masing-masing umat adalah unsur yang paling menentukan. Kesungguhan itu dilihat dari pendalaman batin umat dalam menghayati arti dari masing-masing hari raya. Tanpa pengertian yang mendalam dari maknanya, mustahil tujuan perayaan saat-saat suci itu tercapai. Menjadikannya tidak lebih dari sekedar keramaian yang tanpa makna.
Pada suasana bagaimanapun, perayaan rerainan atau hari raya ini harus berlangsung. Demikianlah hendaknya perwujudan sembah bakti sekala kita kepada Hyang Widhi, lepas dari segala kekurangan dan kelebihan umatNya, yadnya harus tetap ditaati.

© Yayasan Bali Galang 2000 - 2003. All rights reserved.

Hari Raya Galungan (Budha Kliwon Dungulan)

HARI HARI RAYA DI BALI

Hari Raya Galungan (Budha Kliwon Dungulan)
Sejarah Hari Raya Galungan masih merupakan misteri. Dengan mempelajari pustaka-pustaka, di antaranya Panji Amalat Rasmi (Jaman Jenggala) pada abad ke XI di Jawa Timur, Galungan itu sudah dirayakan. Dalam Pararaton jaman akhir kerajaan Majapahit pada abad ke XVI, perayaan semacam ini juga sudah diadakan. Menurut arti bahasa, Galungan itu berarti peperangan. Dalam bahasa Sunda terdapat kata Galungan yang berarti berperang.
Parisadha Hindu Dharma menyimpulkan, bahwa upacara Galungan mempunyai arti Pawedalan Jagat atau Oton Gumi. Tidak berarti bahwa Gumi/ Jagad ini lahir pada hari Budha Keliwon Dungulan. Melainkan hari itulah yang ditetapkan agar umat Hindu di Bali menghaturkan maha suksemaning idepnya ke hadapan Ida Sang Hyang Widhi atas terciptanya dunia serta segala isinya. Pada hari itulah umat angayubagia, bersyukur atas karunia Ida Sanghyang Widhi Wasa yang telah berkenan menciptakan segala-galanya di dunia ini.
Ngaturang maha suksmaning idép, angayubagia adalah suatu pertanda jiwa yang sadar akan Kinasihan, tahu akan hutang budi.
Yang terpenting, dalam pelaksanaan upakara pada hari-hari raya itu adalah sikap batin. Mengenai bebanten tidak kami tuliskan secara lengkap dan terinci. Hanya ditulis yang pokok-pokok saja menurut apa yang umum dilakukan oleh umat. Namun sekali lagi, yang terpenting adalah kesungguhan niat dalam batin.
Dalam rangkaian peringatan Galungan, pustaka-pustaka mengajarkan bahwa sejak Redite Pahing Dungulan kita didatangi oleh Kala-tiganing Galungan. Sang Kala Tiga ialah Sang Bhuta Galungan, Sang Bhuta Dungulan dan Sang Bhuta Amangkurat. Disebutkan dalam pustaka-pustaka itu: mereka adalah simbul angkara (keletehan). Jadi dalam hal ini umat berperang, bukanlah melawan musuh berbentuk fisik, tetapi kala keletehan dan adharma. Berjuang, berperang antara dharma untuk mengalahkan adharma. Menilik nama-nama itu, dapatlah kiranya diartikan sebagai berikut:
Hari pertama = Sang Bhuta Galungan.Galungan berarti berperang/ bertempur. Berdasarkan ini, boleh kita artikan bahwa pada hari Redite Pahing Dungulan kita baru kedatangan bhuta (kala) yang menyerang (kita baru sekedar diserang).
Hari kedua = Sang Bhuta Dungulan.Ia mengunjungi kita pada hari Soma Pon Dungulan keesokan harinya. Kata Dungulan berarti menundukkan/ mengalahkan.
Hari ketiga = Sang Bhuta AmangkuratHari Anggara Wage Dungulan kita dijelang oleh Sang Bhuta Amangkurat. Amangkurat sama dengan menguasai dunia. Dimaksudkan menguasai dunia besar (Bhuwana Agung), dan dunia kecil ialah badan kita sendiri (Bhuwana Alit).
Pendeknya, mula-mula kita diserang, kemudian ditundukkan, dan akhirnya dikuasai. Ini yang akan terjadi, keletehan benar-benar akan menguasai kita, bila kita pasif saja kepada serangan-serangan itu. Dalam hubungan inilah Sundari-Gama mengajarkan agar pada hari-hari ini umat den prayitna anjekung jnana nirmala, lamakane den kasurupan. Hendaklah umat meneguhkan hati agar jangan sampai terpengaruh oleh bhuta-bhuta (keletehan-keletehan) hati tersebut. Inilah hakikat Abhya-Kala (mabiakala) dan metetebasan yang dilakukan pada hari Penampahan itu.
Menurut Pustaka (lontar) Djayakasunu, pada hari Galungan itu Ida Sanghyang Widhi menurunkan anugrah berupa kekuatan iman, dan kesucian batin untuk memenangkan dharma melawan adharma. Menghilangkan keletehan dari hati kita masing-masing. Memperhatikan makna Hari Raya Galungan itu, maka patutlah pada waktu-waktu itu, umat bergembira dan bersuka ria. Gembira dengan penuh rasa Parama Suksma, rasa terimakasih, atas anugrah Hyang Widhi. Gembira atas anugrah tersebut, gembira pula karena Bhatara-bhatara, jiwa suci leluhur, sejak dari sugi manek turun dan berada di tengah-tengah pratisentana sampai dengan Kuningan.
Penjor terpancang di muka rumah dengan megah dan indahnya. Ia adalah lambang pengayat ke Gunung Agung, penghormatan ke hadirat Ida Sanghyang Widhi. Janganlah penjor itu dibuat hanya sebagai hiasan semata-mata. Lebih-lebih pada hari raya Galungan, karena penjor adalah suatu lambang yang penuh arti. Pada penjor digantungkan hasil-hasil pertanian seperti: padi, jagung, kelapa, jajanan dan lain-lain, juga barang-barang sandang (secarik kain) dan uang. Ini mempunyai arti: Penggugah hati umat, sebagai momentum untuk membangunkan rasa pada manusia, bahwa segala yang pokok bagi hidupnya adalah anugrah Hyang Widhi. Semua yang kita pergunakan adalah karuniaNya, yang dilimpahkannya kepada kita semua karena cinta kasihNya. Marilah kita bersama hangayu bagia, menghaturkan rasa Parama suksma. Kita bergembira dan bersukacita menerima anugrah-anugrah itu, baik yang berupa material yang diperlukan bagi kehidupan, maupun yang dilimpahkan berupa kekuatan iman dan kesucian batin. Dalam mewujudkan kegembiraan itu janganlah dibiasakan cara-cara yang keluar dan menyimpang dari kegembiraan yang berdasarkan jiwa keagamaan. Mewujudkan kegembiraan dengan judi, mabuk, atau pengumbaran indria dilarang agama. Bergembiralah dalam batas-batas kesusilaan (kesusilaan sosial dan kesusilaan agama) misalnya mengadakan pertunjukkan kesenian, malam sastra, mapepawosan, olahraga dan lain-lainnya. Hendaklah kita berani merombak kesalahan-kesalahan/ kekeliruan-kekeliruan drsta lama yang nyata-nyata tidak sesuai atau bertentangan dengan ajaran susila. Agama disesuaikan dengan desa, kala dan patra. Selanjutnya oleh umat Hindu di Bali dilakukan persernbahyangan bersama-sama ke semua tempat persembahyangan, misalnya: di sanggah/ pemerajan, di pura-pura seperti pura-pura Kahyangan Tiga dan lain-lainnya. Sedangkan oleh para spiritualis, Hari Raya Galungan ini dirayakan dengan dharana, dyana dan yoga semadhi.
Persembahan dihaturkan ke hadapan Ida Sanghyang Widhi dan kepada semua dewa-dewa dan dilakukan di sanggah parhyangan, di atas tempat tidur, di halaman, di lumbung, di dapur, di tugu (tumbal), di bangunan-bangunan rumah dan lain-lain. Seterusnya di Kahyangan Tiga, di Pengulun Setra (Prajapati), kepada Dewi Laut (Samudera) Dewa Hutan (Wana Giri) di perabot-perabot / alat-alat rumah tangga dan sebagainya.
Widhi-widhananya untuk di Sanggah/ parhyangan ialah: Tumpeng penyajaan, wewakulan, canang raka, sedah woh, penek ajuman, kernbang payas serta wangi-wangian dan pesucian. Untuk di persembahyangan (piasan) dihaturkan tumpeng pengambean, jerimpen, pajegan serta dengan pelengkapnya. Lauk pauknya sesate babi dan daging goreng, daging itik atau ayarn, dibuat rawon dan sebagainya. Sesudah selesai menghaturkan upacara dan upakara tersebut kemudian kita menghaturkan segehan tandingan sebagaimana biasanya, untuk pelaba-pelaba kepada Sang Para Bhuta Galungan, sehingga karena gembiranya mereka lupa dengan kewajiban- kewajibannya mengganggu dan menggoda ketentraman batin manusia.Demikianlah hendaknya Hari Raya Galungan berlaku dengan aman dan diliputi oleh suasana suci hening, mengsyukuri limpahan kemurahan Ida Sanghyang Widhi untuk keselamatan manusia dan seisi dunia. Pada hari Saniscara Keliwon Wuku Kuningan (hari raya atau Tumpek Kuningan), Ida Sanghyang Widhi para Dewa dan Pitara-pitara turun lagi ke dunia untuk melimpahkan karuniaNya berupa kebutuhan pokok tersebut.Pada hari itu dibuat nasi kuning, lambang kemakmuran dan dihaturkan sesajen-sesajen sebagai tanda terimakasih dan suksmaning idep kita sebagai manusia (umat) menerima anugrah dari Hyang Widhi berupa bahan-bahan sandang dan pangan yang semuanya itu dilimpahkan oleh beliau kepada umatNya atas dasar cinta-kasihnya. Di dalam tebog atau selanggi yang berisi nasi kuning tersebut dipancangkan sebuah wayang-wayangan (malaekat) yang melimpahkan anugrah kemakmuran kepada kita semua.Demikian secara singkat keterangan-keterangan dalam merayakan hari Raya Galungan dan Kuningan dalam pelaksanaan dari segi batin.
Kesimpulan:
Dalam menyambut dan merayakan hari-hari raya itu, bergembiralah atas anugrah Hyang Widhi dalam batas-batas kesusilaan agama dan keprihatinan bangsa.
Terangkan hati, agar menjadi Çura, Dira dan Deraka (berani, kokoh dan kuat), dalam menghadapi hidup di dunia.
Hemat dan sederhanalah dalam mempergunakan biaya.
Terakhir dan bahkan yang terpenting ialah mohon anugrah Hyang Widhi dengan ketulusan hati.
Om, sampurna ya nama swaha.Om, sukham bhawantu.



© Yayasan Bali Galang 2000 - 2003. All rights reserved.

Special Days in Bali & Calendar

Bali Travel Guidebook:Special Days in Bali & Calendar
Although modern-day Bali operates using the familiar Roman Calendar that most people are used to, with 365 days in a year, there are two other calendars that also play an important role in the lives of the Balinese.
The most important calendar for the Balinese is one using a 210-day cycle. Although many people would not be able to tell you exactly when their birthday is as a date from the Roman calendar, they would certainly know when their oton (Balinese birthday) is. Also this calendar is used to determine the dates of the many odalan (temple anniversary ceremonies) as well as the many special festival days that are celebrated island-wide in Bali.
There is also a third Lunar, or Saka Calendar that operates to determine particular events in the lives of the Balinese, especially for the farmers in the rural areas of Bali. This calendar is determined by the phases of the moon, the most important days being purnama (full moon) & tilem (new moon). Nyepi (Balinese New Year) is also determined using this calendar, the eve of Nyepi falling on the night of the new moon whenever it occurs around March/April each year.
Below is a summary of a number of dates that have various degrees of importance for the Balinese. As well as the Hindu-Bali holidays and days for special offerings that are celebrated Bali-wide, I have also included the dates of some of our local village ceremonies around KLUB KOKOS, as well as other public holidays (shown in red) that are celebrated throughout Bali, where schools, banks and offices will be closed.
Date:
Occasion:
Comments:
January 2005

1
New Year's Day

3
Kajeng Kliwon

8
Tumpek Landep / Odalan Banjar Bankiang Sidem
Tumpek Landep is a special day of thanks for the gift of metal. Odalan (anniversary ceremony) for the village council hall in Bangkiang Sidem.
9
Hari Siwa Latri
People - mainly youth - stay up all night to meditate about Siva, asking forgiveness of past sins
10
New Moon (Tilem)

18
Kajeng Kliwon

21
Idul Adha
Muslim holiday
24
Full Moon (Purnama)

February 2005

2
Kajeng Kliwon

8
New Moon (Tilem)

9
Chinese New Year

10
1 Muharram 1423 H
Islamic New Year
12
Tumpek Uduh
Special day of thanks for the gift of fruit-bearing plants
17
Kajeng Kliwon

23
Full Moon (Purnama)

March 2005

3
Sugian Jawa
Cleansing rituals in the lead-up to Galungan
4
Sugian Bali / Kajeng Kliwon
Sugian Bali is a day of introspection in the lead-up to Galungan
8
Penampahan Galungan
The day before Galungan
9
Galungan
Island-wide festival
10
Umanis Galungan / New Moon (Tilem)
The day after Galungan; the eve of Nyepi, when an island-wide exorcism is held in the evening
11
Nyepi
Balinese New Year
12
Ngembak Geni
Day after New Year when people visit friends and relatives
19
Kuningan / Kajeng Kliwon
Island-wide festival
24
Full Moon (Purnama)

25
Good Friday
Christian holiday
27
Easter Sunday
Christian holiday
April 2005

3
Kajeng Kliwon

8
New Moon (Tilem)

13
Buda Kliwon Pahang /Temple anniversary at Pura Suci in Bangkiang Sidem (Odalan)
Buda Kliwon Pahang is the end of Galungan period marked by the taking down of the penjor (bamboo poles)
18
Kajeng Kliwon

22
Mohammed's Birthday
Muslim holiday
23
Tumpek Kruluk / Full Moon (Purnama)
Special day to play the music of the gamelan
27
Hari Buda Cemeng Merakih
A day people like to clear any shopping debts they might hold
May 2005

3
Temple anniversary at Pura Dalem in Bangkiang Sidem (Odalan) / Kajeng Kliwon

5
Ascension Day
Christian holiday
8
New Moon (Tilem)

15
Pentecost
Christian holiday
18
Kajeng Kliwon

23
Full Moon (Purnama)

24
Waisak
Buddhist holiday
28
Tumpek Kandang
Special day of thanks for the gift of livestock
June 2005

2
Kajeng Kliwon

6
New Moon (Tilem)

17
Kajeng Kliwon

21
Full Moon (Purnama)

July 2005

2
Tumpek Wayang / Kajeng Kliwon
Tumpek Wayang is a special day of thanks for the gift of Art
6
Buda Cemeng Klawu / New Moon (Tilem)
Special day for offerings in shops, banks, etc. where money is made/kept
17
Kajeng Kliwon

21
Full Moon (Purnama)

23
Saraswati
Special day of thanks for the gift of Knowledge
27
Pagerwesi
Special day for meditation to enhance balance in the world
August 2005

1
Kajeng Kliwon

4
New Moon (Tilem)

6
Tumpek Landep / Odalan Banjar Bankiang Sidem
Tumpek Landep is a special day of thanks for the gift of metal. Odalan (anniversary ceremony) for the village council hall in Bangkiang Sidem.
16
Kajeng Kliwon

17
Indonesian Independence Day
A public holiday throughout Indonesia
19
Full Moon (Purnama)

31
Kajeng Kliwon

September 2005

2
Isra Mi'Raj Nabi Muhammad SAW
Muslim holiday
3
New Moon (Tilem)

10
Tumpek Uduh
Special day of thanks for the gift of fruit-bearing plants
15
Kajeng Kliwon

18
Full Moon (Purnama)

29
Sugian Jawa
Cleansing rituals in the lead-up to Galungan
30
Sugian Bali / Kajeng Kliwon
Sugian Bali is a day of introspection in the lead-up to Galungan
October 2005

2
New Moon (Tilem)

4
Penampahan Galungan / 1Ramadan
The day before Galungan / Muslims begin fasting month
5
Galungan
Island-wide festival
6
Umanis Galungan
The day after Galungan
15
Kuningan /Kajeng Kliwon
Island-wide festival
17
Full Moon (Purnama)

30
Kajeng Kliwon

November 2005

1
New Moon (Tilem)

3-4
Idul Fitri
Muslim festival to end fasting month
9
Buda Kliwon Pahang /Temple anniversary at Pura Suci in Bangkiang Sidem (Odalan)
Buda Kliwon Pahang is the end of Galungan period marked by the taking down of the penjor (bamboo poles)
14
Kajeng Kliwon

16
Full Moon (Purnama)

19
Tumpek Krulut
Special day to play the music of the gamelan
23
Hari Buda Cemeng Merakih
A day people like to clear any shopping debts they might hold
29
Kajeng Kliwon

30
New Moon (Tilem)

December 2005

14
Kajeng Kliwon

15
Full Moon (Purnama)

24
Tumpek Kandang
Special day of thanks for the gift of livestock
25
Christmas Day
Christian holiday
29
Kajeng Kliwon

30
New Moon (Tilem)

the meaning of kuningan

Bali Travel Guidebook:Special Days: Kuningan
IntroductionBackground on BaliActivities & ToursLanguageClimate & ClothingMoneyShoppingHealthBalinese Culture Special Days Galungan Kuningan Odalan Kajeng Kliwon Tumpek Landep Purnama (Full Moon) Tilem (New Moon) Nyepi (Balinese New Year)

Also occurring once in every 210 days in the Balinese cycle of days, Kuningan is the end of the most important of the regular religious ceremonies for the 10-day Galungan period. During this period the deified ancestors of the family descend to their former homes. They must be suitably entertained and welcomed, and prayers and offerings must be made for them. Those families who have uncremated deceased ones buried in the village cemetery must make offerings at the graves.
Kuningan takes its name from the fact that special offerings of yellow rice (nasi kuning) are made by colouring ordinary white rice with tumeric (kunyit). It is a time for family groups, prayers, and offerings, as their ancestors return to heaven.
This Galungan period is also a symbolic representation of a battle between good and evil, and the most important function of Kuningan is to celebrate the victory of good over evil so that the balance and harmony of the world can be maintained.
Unlike the more public processions of village temple ceremonies and cremations, most Kuningan celebrations take place in the privacy of the home, in the shrines of the family temple and house compound.
The day after Kuningan is a time for a holiday, visiting, and having fun.
The date for Kuningan and other special Balinese days is shown on the Balinese Calendar.

this is posted on galungan day on the meaning of galungan

Galungan
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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. Galungan means "When the Dharma is winning." During this holiday the Balinese gods visit the Earth and leave on Kuningan.
Occurring once in every 210 days in the Balinese cycle of days, Galungan marks the beginning of the most important recurring religious ceremony that is celebrated by all Balinese. During the Galungan period the deified ancestors of the family descend to their former homes. They must be suitably entertained and welcomed, and prayers and offerings must be made for them. Those families who have ancestors that have not yet been cremated, but are still buried in the village cemetery, must make offerings at the graves.
Although Galungan falls on a Wednesday, most Balinese will begin their Galungan 'holiday' the day before, where the family is seen to be busily preparing offerings and cooking for the next day. While the women of the household have been busy for days before creating beautifully woven 'banten' (offerings made from young coconut fronds), the men of our village usually wake up well before dawn to join with their neighbours to slaughter a pig unlucky enough to be chosen to help celebrate this occasion. Then the finely diced pork is mashed to a pulp with a grinding stone, and moulded onto sate sticks that have been already prepared by whittling small sticks of bamboo. Chickens may also be chosen from the collection of free-range chickens that roam around the house compound. Delicate combinations of various vegetables, herbs and spices are also prepared by the men to make up a selection of 'lawar' dishes. While much of this cooking is for use in the offerings to be made at the family temple, by mid-morning, once all the cooking is done, it is time for the first of a series of satisfying feasts from what has been prepared. While the women continue to be kept busy with the preparations of the many offerings to be made at the family temple on the day of Galungan, the men also have another job to do this day, once the cooking is finished. A long bamboo pole, or 'penjor', is made to decorate the entrance to the family compound. By late Tuesday afternoon all over Bali the visitor can see these decorative poles creating a very festive atmosphere in the street.
On Wednesday, the day of Galungan, one will find that most Balinese will try to return to their own ancestral home at some stage during the day, even if they work in another part of the island. This is a very special day for families, where offerings are made to God and to the family ancestors who have come back to rest at this time in their family temple. As well as the family temple, visits are made to the village temple with offerings as well, and to the homes of other families who may have helped the family in some way over the past six months.
The day after Galungan is a time for a holiday, visiting friends, maybe taking the opportunity to head for the mountains for a picnic. Everyone is still seen to be in their 'Sunday best' as they take to the streets to enjoy the festive spirit that Galungan brings to Bali.
The date for Galungan and other special Balinese days is shown on the Balinese Calendar.

bali architecture

The Balinese House

Taken from :
The House in Indonesia
Between Globalization and Localization
By Peter J.M. Nas
Published in Bijdragen voor de Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde, vol 154, no 2, pp. 335-360, 1998. http://www.leidenuniv.nl/fsw/nas/pub_houseIndonesia.htm#The%20Balinese%20House


The Balinese dwelling is likewise a form of open space architecture. The orientation of the house upstream towards the holy mountain Gunung Agung plays an important role. This direction is considered sacred, while its opposite is profane.

The territory of the house is divided, on the one hand, into mountain (head), land (body), and sea (legs), and, on the other hand, into the rising (head), zenith (body), and setting (legs) of the sun.

The combination of these two divisions results in nine cells of which the mountain/sunrise (head/head) combination is the most sacred and oriented towards the holy mountain. The sea/sunset (legs/legs) combination is the most profane.

All the cells are graded in this elaborate system and designated for particular use, such as the family temple, and accommodating the unmarried girls, parents, boys, granary, kitchen, and so on.

This means that the Balinese house is dominated by anthropomorphic and cosmic principles combined in gradation from sacred to profane (Nas 1995).