Nyepi Day - March 19th 2007
Nyepi Day is the Balinese New Year’s Day based on the Balinese Saka calendar system which has it’s origins in South India. There are 12 lunar months which end on a new moon called Tilem. Nyepi Day is actually the 1st day of the 10th lunar month of this calendar and is an important religious day. It is also Bali’s annual day of silence where all shops are closed and no one is supposed to be seen out on the streets. The purpose of this is to make it appear to the evil spirits that everyone has abandoned Bali. Seeing this, they too will leave…. Yes, so you will be safe … from the evil spirits at least.
The day before Nyepi is called Tawur Kesanga and the day when exorcisms are carried out at the main village crossroads which is where the demons supposedly meet. This is when many Ogoh-Ogoh are carried through the town in a carnival like atmosphere. Since they represent the evil spirits, they all look frighteningly ugly with fangs and bulging eyes. At night the Ogoh-Ogoh are set on fire to free the island of the evil spirits. (more…)
Galungan
It’s Galungan today. Everyone in Bali is celebrating at home so it is rather quiet in Ubud. The streets are lined with bamboo poles placed at the entrance of each home which the locals have spent the past few days making. The celebrations go on for the next 10 days until Kuningan.
Galungan - November 29th
Galungan is a Balinese holiday celebrated every 210 days and usually falls on a Wednesday. Galungan is when the Gods visit Bali and stay for 10 days before leaving on Kuningan which is the last day. It is the victory of Good over Evil and the Balinese celebrate by preparing offerings to thank the Gods. During the Galungan period the deified ancestors of the family descend to their former homes. They must be suitably entertained and welcomed, and prayers and offerings must be made for them. Those families who have ancestors that have not yet been cremated, but are still buried in the village cemetery, must make offerings at the graves. Look out for the “penjors” which are decorated long bamboo poles which you will see lining the streets at the entrances of all Balinese homes at this time. They make for colourful photo opportunities.
Indonesia Public Holidays 2007
The 2007 schedule for Indonesia public holidays can now be found on our website. The Indonesian government has added new shared holidays to boost tourism. So plan your holidays to Bali now!