Bali Tourist Info > Bali Festivals > Galungan

Galungan
Galungan is another festival related to religion. It is observed in the eleventh week of the 210th day in the Balinese calendar and celebrates the creation of our world. Bali's most significant annual event, locals will spend the day visiting family, friends and neighbors decked in their finest and indulge in heavy feasting.

Galungan is perhaps the most important Balinese religious holidays for followers of the Hindu faith. the celebrations for Galungan are basically spread across a three-day period where a series of symbolic ceremonies are carried out all over the island. as this is an extraordinarily long public holiday, most Balinese return home to their ancestral villages to prepare for the festivities. despite the intense workload, the mood is invariably jovial. 

The Balinese believe that during Galungan the Gods and deified ancestors descend upon earth for a period of 10 days. during this time numerous ceremonies take place, offerings are made, prayers expressed and traditional food cooked. certain offerings are also presented to the spirits of the underworld in an effort to maintain a harmonious balance between all forces of the physical world.

The day following Galungan is an opportunity to visit relatives and seek forgiveness for any previous wrongdoings by praying communally for blessing by God Almighty. according to Hindu belief, man faces a continuous battle between the positive and negative elements of life. Hinduism teaches how to resist what is evil and make a concentrated effort to utilize the positive energy from within.

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