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)