Selamat Hari Raya Galungan & Kuningan 2014

 

Galungan is a Balinese holiday celebrating the victory of dharma over adharma. It marks the time when the ancestral spirits visit the Earth. The last day of the celebration is Kuningan, when they return. The date is calculated according to the 210-day Balinese 


Galungan marks the beginning of the most important recurring religious ceremonies. 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.

The most obvious sign of the celebrations are the penjor - bamboo poles weighed down by offerings suspended at the end. These can be seen by the side of roads. A number of days around the Kuningan day itself have special names, with particular activities being organized.

	Name of day	Activities
3 days before	Penyekeban	Cooking of bananas for offerings
2 days before	Penyajaan	Making of jaja (fried rice cakes)
1 day before	Penampahan	Slaughtering of pigs and turtles for feasts
1 day after	Manis Galungan	Visiting family
10 days after	Kuningan	Prayers, offerings - spirits return to heaven
11 days after	Manis Kuningan	Fun