Galungan

Last updated
Galungan
Penjor2025.jpg
Penjor lining a road in Bali at Galungan
Also calledGalungan
Observed by Balinese Hindus
TypeHindu
ObservancesPrayers, Religious rituals
DateHindu Balinese pawukon
Buda Keliwon Dunggulan

Galungan is a Balinese holiday celebrating the victory of dharma over adharma. [1] 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 Pawukon calendar.

Contents

Significance

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 homelands, 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 with offerings suspended at the end. These are installed by the side of roads. A number of days around the Kuningan day have special names, and are marked by the organization of particular activities. [2]

Name of dayActivities
3 days beforePenyekebanCooking of bananas for offerings
2 days beforePenyajaanMaking of jaja (fried rice cakes)
1 day beforePenampahanSlaughtering of pigs or chicken for feasts
1 day afterManis GalunganVisiting family
10 days afterKuninganPrayers, offerings - spirits return to heaven
11 days afterManis KuninganFun

Dates

Galungan begins on the Wednesday (Buda), the 11th week of the 210-day pawukon calendar. This means that there are often two celebrations per solar year. Dates for 2018-2025 are as follows: [3]

YearGalunganKuningan
2018May 30June 9
2018-2019December 26January 5
2019July 24August 3
2020February 19February 29
2020September 16September 26
2021April 14April 24
2021November 10November 20
2022June 8June 18
2023January 4January 14
2023August 2August 12
2024February 28March 9
2024September 25October 5
2025April 23May 3
2025November 19November 29

References


Notes

  1. Eiseman (1989) p353
  2. Eiseman (1989) p183
  3. balilocalguide.com