Approximately in the 6th century, once lived a powerful yet also evil-spirited King ruled the entire Island of Bali named Mayadenawa. He was devoted to the Lord Siwa and constantly worshipped and meditated upon him. To reward him for his loyal devotion, he was then blessed by The Lord Siwa with supernatural power and the ability to change himself into any shape and form. Mayadenawa then, instead of using the blessings for the good, he turned to the opposite direction toward the darkness…
The power created ego and greed within him. He established himself not only as a King but also as God himself. Thus, people were no longer allowed to perform any ceremony to God and worshiped only him. Temples were shut, and he banned all forms of religious events.
As the darkness overcame the light, his leadership led toward failure in many areas. Strange diseases and illnesses, death, difficulties in growing crops as the land was energetically unbalanced, and people were suffering. This disastrous news reached the Holy Priest named Sangkul Putih who then meditated to receive guidance from God on how to end the suffering under the ruler of Mayadenawa.
Following the guidance he received, he completed a long journey to come to Lord Indra – the God of War and Rain. God Indra and His army then descended to earth to battle against the evil-spirited King, Mayadenawa.
Close to defeat by Lord Indra’s army, at night Mayadenawa poisoned the spring water where Lord Indra’s army used to go to drink. The next morning, after drinking the water from the spring they got sick and died. To revive them, Lord Indra then created Holy Spring Water which is nowadays known as The Holy Spring Water of Tirtha Empul.
Defeated, Mayadenawa then used the power given to him by Lord Siwa, transforming himself into so many forms. As a manuk (chicken), young coconut leaf, angel, timbul (a kind of vegetable), and else…
At last, Lord Indra could not be fooled by any form that Mayadenawa turned into and pointed His arrow that eventually ended his life.
The Dharma (the Light) won over Adharma (the Darkness). No more suffering on the island. It brought the happiness and joy back to life. The people were excited to continue doing their religious obligations and ceremonies. Life was then blessed with prosperity, harmony, and peace.
The epic story of Mayadenawa is believed to be the beginning of the Galungan holiday that the Balinese celebrate every 210 days. Galungan always fall on Wednesday Kliwon, the week of Dunggulan (according to Balinese Caka calendar). On this day, it truly is a blessing to be able for those to participate in the celebration. All the colorful decoration and Penjor (the bamboo pole) is such a feast to the eyes.
Some Holidays further ahead are known to have their relation with Galungan.
TUMPEK WARIGA
25 days before Galungan, on Saturday the week of Wariga is the day dedicated to worshiping the God Shangkara – God of Fertility, the God of Plant. The offerings made on this day will be placed on the trees/plants. Besides the rice paddy, coconut trees, banana trees, or any other fruit trees will also have their portion of offerings. The purpose of the ceremony is to be thankful for the abundance and may the trees continue to produce more fruits/leaves/seeds/flowers healthily to be used for the upcoming Galungan.
SUGIHAN JAWA
A week before Galungan, on Thursday the week of Sungsang. The ceremony to cleansing and purification of the macro cosmos – the environment. The cleansing will also include physical cleansing of our surroundings.
SUGIHAN BALI
On Friday the week of Sungsang, the day after Sugihan Jawa. The ceremony cleanses and purifies the microcosmos of the individual self. Some of the Balinese will be doing the Holy Water Purification ceremony to get rid of any impurities in all dimensions of the beings. So much work and patience will be needed in the upcoming week. May they will be protected from any negativity that comes in all forms.
PANYEKEBAN
The Sunday of the week of Dungulan. The fruits, especially the bananas, are harvested when they are unripe. The price of the fruits/flowers usually goes up the closer it gets to the holiday, so the Moms will buy the unripe ones even a week before Galungan. The Penyekaban day is the day you wrap those fruits and place them somewhere else at home so they become almost ripe for offerings. This process is known as “nyekeb” from Panyekeban.
PENYAJAHAN
On Monday the week of Dungulan. The women will be busy with their young coconut leaves to make decorations for the offerings. The men will be busy making penjor (the bamboo decoration). Grandmas usually like to use this day to make some deep-fried sweets. But, no matter how early you start your day, there will always be something more coming up. So the “majejahitan” making offering decoration will start earlier than today.
PENAMPAHAN
On Tuesday, the week of Dungulan. Getting busy. Men would wake up earlier than they usually do. Their task in the early morning is to collect/buy the pork and the chicken along with other ingredients and spices they have ordered and bring them home. It is the day to feast on the traditional dishes. To name a few: lawar (mixed of young jackfruit, young papaya, red beans, either minced pork or chicken with Balinese spice), tum (minced pork or chicken mixed with spice wrapped in banana leaf – steam), timbungan (traditional soup consist of young jackfruit, pork or chicken), urutan (the Balinese sausage) and various sambals (the spicy fresh sauces). So it is a long day of cooking.
Once it is done, the women will make small baskets with banana leaves, and fill them with all the delicious dishes separately, with steamed rice. That is now the offering for the ancestors on that day.
The penjor made on the previous day is supposed to be erected at noon time by the men at the entrance of the compound.
Everybody on this day needs to be extra cautious and guard themselves strongly. The evil spirit of Shang Bhuta Dungulan is around to test everyone’s commitment. Once done with the penjor, the men will move slowly to the temple compound to put the colorful clothes to decorate the temples. Since Balinese live in a compound, most of the tasks will be done in a group.
GALUNGAN
On Wednesday the week of Dungulan. The day has finally arrived! Everyone is wearing their best temple attire. The offerings are placed at the family temple and around the compound. The gamelan is playing. The aroma of incense is filling the air. The ceremony starts at the compound then to the temple of origin, then to the temples around the villages.
Generous amounts of Holy waters are being poured countlessly. Prayers and mantras are traveling to all dimensions of the universe. The ceremony lasts till late afternoon. The holy spirits of our ancestors now will remain to stay till Kuningan Day in the next 10 days.
MANIS GALUNGAN
Thursday, the week of Dungulan. What is the reward after all the hard work put into Galungan? A trip to relax after a long preparation and a successful celebration on Galungan.To unwind and visit the relatives. The use of this day is to enjoy family time.
We get a few days to rest before Kuningan holiday which falls on the next 9 days.
PENAMPAHAN KUNINGAN
On Friday, the week of Kuningan. Just one day before the actual holiday itself, men will be busy in the kitchen with cooking and women will be busy with the offerings.
KUNINGAN
On Saturday, the week of Kuningan. Unlike Galungan which is a whole day ceremony, the celebration on Kuningan day have to be done by 12.00 noon. The divine spirits as well as the holy spirits of our ancestors are ascending back to the spiritual realm on this day. The whole process is the same as Galungan. Begin from the family temple to Pura Khayangan Tiga (the community temples) then to the family temple of origin.
MANIS KUNINGAN
On Sunday, the week of Langkir. A self-care and resting day. To enjoy the sweetness of Galungan and Kuningan that come in the forms of blessings and abundance in life.
PEGAT UWAKAN
On Wednesday, the week of Pahang, 42 days after Galungan marks the end of the Galungan and Kuningan celebration. The Penjor attribute will be taken off, and life will continue on the path of Dharma – the ultimate truth.
This can be a special moment to experience while in Bali. If you are invited by your Balinese friends to celebrate, say YES!
Dress up appropriately and make sure the ladies, that you are not entering any temples during the monthly cycle.
– Calendar of 2024:
Galungan February 28th and September 25th
Kuningan March 9th and October 5th
– Calendar of 2025:
Galungan April 23rd and November 19th
Kuningan May 3rd and November 29th
– Calendar of 2026:
Galungan June 17th
Kuningan June 27th
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.