Balinese Hindus to celebrate "Galungan", the day of Triumph

DENPASAR (indo.com): Travelers to Bali will have a special treat when local Hindu followers celebrate Galungan, a day of triumph. Galungan is one of the important events in Bali, according to Balinese Pakuwon calender.

The Galungan Day will be held on August 11, 2004.

To mark the victory day of Galungan, Balinese Hindu followers will erect long bamboo poles in front of their entrance gate with lavish offering. They will also hold a morning feast in every house compound by slaughtering pigs.

Visitors will have a chance to see this beautiful island at it is the prettiest since all house compounds and entrance gates are decorated with Penjor, the long, over-hanging bamboo poles decorated with elaborate creations carved and woven from leaves and natural fibers. During the celebration, there shouldn't be any school and commercial activities because all attention will be focused on devotional activities associated with this special holiday.

It is believed that the deified ancestors of the family descend to their former homes where they must be entertained and given offerings. Offerings are also made at the gravesides of those awaiting cremation and their final release into the world of spirits.

Three celebrations will be held before the Galungan Day, namely Penyekeban Day to be held on Sunday, August 8, 2004, Penyajaan Day on Monday, August 9, 2004 and Penampahan Day on Tuesday, the following day.

The Penyekeban Day is the day on which to cover up fermented cakes. Green bananas are sealed in large clay pots and covered with coconut husk in order to ripen them quickly: huge quantities of bananas are required for Galungan offerings.

Meanwhile, Penyajaan Day is devoted to making many colored cakes of fried rice dough. These are much loved by the Balinese and are used as offerings in numerous ceremonies. Mountains of these cakes can be seen in markets, as a busy housewife will often not have time to make them herself.

Penampahan day is a day when many pigs are slaughtered for the traditional Galungan morning feast. An essential feature of the menu is the traditional lawar, a spicy hash made of finely chopped pork and dozens of spices. The preparation to make dozens of sticks of the traditional Balinese satay is also done in this slaughter day for the mourning feast and for making the offering to the dead people, which have not been cremated yet.

The following day of Galungan is Umanis Galungan, which falls on Thursday, August 12, 2004 when the devotional duties and feasting are over and families take to the road to visit families and friends and really get into the holiday spirit. And this celebration of the victory days, the Kuningan Day, will be held ten days after the Galungan Day, on August 21, 2004.