Galungan and Kuningan Holy Days are significant sacred days for the Balinese people. These sacred days, which fall every six months or 210 days on the Hindu’s calendar, will take place this year on Wednesday, March 18th and on March 28th. Hindu’s celebrate Galungan as an anniversary of dharma’s victory against adharma, the victory or good verses evil.
Penjor, a bamboo pole decorated with yellowish coconut leaves, rice, and fruits, will be set in front of every house and all street borders. Penjor symbolizes the mountains, holiness, fertility, and prosperity. Penjor is set as a sign of gratitude towards God who contributes ti life and prosperity.
In addition to its religious purposes, Penjor also serves as a decoration. Before, penjor were only set at the time of Galungan nadi, which is Galungan that falls on the full moon. Now, Penjor is set on each Galungan day, because Galungan is a special day.
The day before Galungan, which will be a Tuesday, is called Penampahan or nampah day. Nampah means the slaughtering of an animal, usually a pig or a small animal such as chickens or ducks. The slaughtering activity is carried out in-groups of about 20 persons or more, or individually at family compounds. This meat, beside being a sacrifice to God, can also be consumed at parties or enjoyed with relatives and family. People, who don’t slaughter animals, can buy meat for Galungan preparation.
On Galungan, the Balinese Hindus offer the offerings at the family temple, pura desa (village temple), and other great temples in Bali. The next morning is called Umanis Galungan, when Hindus visit their relatives or relax at tourist destinations. Children’s entertainment centers are usually crowded on Umanis Galungan day.
Ten days after Galungan, on Saturday Kliwon wuku Kuningan, March 28th, Hindus also celebrate another sacred day called Kuningan day. On Kuningan Day, Hindu also pray and travel to tourism sites, but it in not as crowded as Galungan.
Typically on Galungan and Kuningan day, village children watch the barong dance. This Barong dance is usually danced at special sites on temples or stages. However, on a great day like Galungan, the dance is performed in the front of family compounds or small shops on the street. This dance is called nglawang, which is regularly performed for about 5 – 10 minutes, from one place to another, and the owner of the house usually pays around Rp. 5,000.
The significance of ngelawang is not in the amount of payment or performance duration, but in the entertainment which symbolizes an effort to purity the village area. Years ago, ngelawang was held to purity the village territory and tranquilize villager’s feelings and spirits after a disaster took place.
News by International Bali Post
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