|
| BaliBagus.com's News
covers many topics including Bali travel news, articles, folklore,
and free greetings card. You can also share your travel experience
with other visitors or post any comments, suggestions, and ideas
in our travel forum. But wait, you can also tell your friends about
Bali by using our free tell friend facility. So many things to explore
from our website. Enjoy! |
| BaliBagus.com Bali Hotels & Villas Reservation > Bali Travel News |
Galungan Day, Victory Of Goodness Versus Evil
2004-01-07
[Balibagus.com]
 Galungan is the celebration of the victory of Dharma (the goodness)
versus A-Dharma (the evil). It is also called the thanks-giving day,
when the Balinese Hindu thanks the Almighty God for His blessing. The celebration
of the Galungan day, which takes place every six months (equal to a year
according to the Balinese to Balinese calendar), is conducted by praying in
the family temple, or to public temple. In this particular holy day, the Balinese
will visit their relatives. The street will be full of penjor and offerings
in front of every house. This is the day when you can see Balinese kids wear
their best clothes and their parents go to the temple to pray and thank the
Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa (The Almighty God).
|  The victory of Dharma
According to the local legend, there was a powerful evil king called Mayadenawa.
His cruelty made the people suffer and led a dreadful life. It was said agriculture
was destroyed and plaque and disease were prevailing everywhere. What’s
more, Mayadenawa destroyed all the temples because he did not allow the Balinese
to worship the God. The people did not dare to argue or to fight the order of
Mayadenawa because of his cruelty and magical power. Finally, it was said that
the God Indra (the war god) led the troops from heaven, with complete weaponry
to Bali to help the people to assassinate the evil king. The death of the King
Mayadenawa is then celebrated as the victory of the good (Dharma) upon evil
(A-Dharma). This victory is celebrated every six months (6x35 days=210 days),
as the Galungan Day.
Another version of the Galungan day said that the Galungan first celebrated
in the saka year of 804 or year 880. An ancient script called Purana Bali Dwipa
mentioned about the first celebration of Galungan was in the full moon of Wednesday,
Kliwon Wuku Dunggulan (Balinese Calendar) and then it was celebrated every 210
days. Starting from saka year 1103, there was a suspension of the Galungan celebration
for about 23 years. The result was disease, and poor living in Bali. The celebration
then was resumed in the 1126, after the King received words from the heaven
that the disease and poor living will be solved if the Balinese celebrate Galungan.
So, the Galungan once was celebrated again.
|  The Days of Celebration of Galungan and Kuningan
Galungan, instead of a day celebration, was a series of holy days that last for about twenty days. The celebration of Galungan dan Kuningan is started on Tumpek Wariga or Tumpek Pengarah, the preparation for Galungan and Kuningan, until Budha Keliwon Pahang or also called as Buddha Keliwon Pegat Wakan. To be specific, here is the detail of the series of the Galungan celebration.
- Wrespathi Wage Sungsang, is called Sugimanek Jawa, the day of the
arrival of the Gods accompanied by the ancestors on earth. On this day offerings
are dedicated to the Gods and ancestors in the family shrine.
- Sukra Keliwon Sungsang, is called Sugimanek Bali, a special day to
cleanse the soul of people or purification. On this day it is suggested to
visit temples (matirtha yatra) and to learn more about the holy teachings
of Veda or the holy book.
- Saniscara Umanis Sungsang, is a preparation day face the 'test' mentally
and physically in peace, patience, alertness and devotion.
- Panyekeban/Panapean, Redite Pahing Dungulan is when the Hindus started
to do a meditation (yoga semadhi), because on this day Sang Kala Tiga Wisesa
came as Bhuta Galungan, to tempt the human's mind. On this day people also
start to make cakes for the Galungan day.
- Penampahan, Anggara Wage Dungulan, is a day when temptation comes
from Bhuta Amangkurat. If the people were not in alert and weak, it would
succeed in tempting us.
- Galungan, Budha Keliwon Dungulan is the day of celebration, the victory
day after facing the 'test' mentally and physically from Sang Bhuta Galungan
or the victory of the Good (Dharma) upon Evil (A-Dharma). On this day offerings
are dedicated to the God and the ancestors who descent from heaven to bless
the people.
- Umanis Galungan, Wrespathi Umanis Galungan The offerings are replaced
with new ones and public art performance such as dances, drama, are usually
held to be enjoyed by everyone. On this day people also visit their relatives
to strengthen family or friend relationship.
- Pahing Galungan, Sukra Pahing Dungulan.
- Pamaridan Guru, Saniscara Pon Dungulan. On this day, the Hindus usually
visit the temples (tirthayatra) to enrich their spiritual life.
- Ulihan, Redithe Wage Kuningan, is the day when we commemorate the
ancestors who has ascent to the heaven and continue their duty to fight for
the truth (Dharma).
- Pamacekan Agung, Soma Keliwon Kuningan, is the day to pray for good
will and the purity of the heart, because pemacekan day comes from the word
'pacek', which means the middle, i.e. the day between Galungan and Kuningan
(5 days after Galungan and 5 days before Kuningan). The Philosophy is the
people are in the middle of the purity of the heart.
- Anggara Umanis Kuningan, is the preparation of Kuningan Day.
- Pujawali Bhatara Wisnu, Budha Pahing Kuningan is the day when the
protector of the world, God Wisnu descends to the earth. The Hindus on this
day pray for the maintenance of the universe.
- Wrespathi Pon Kuningan, is a preparation day for Kuningan.
- Penampahan Kuningan, Sukra Wage Kuningan is a day to prepare the
offering for Kuningan Day.
- Tumpek Kuningan, Saniscara Keliwon Kuningan, is the day when the
gods and the ancestors descend to the earth until the midday. On this day
the Hindus, besides conducting prayer, are suggested to do self-introspection
by doing a meditation for human's prosperity.
- Pegat Wakan, Budha Keliwon Pahang, is the end of meditation that
has been done for 42 days (from Sugimanek Jawa until Budha Keliwon Pahang).
On this day the Hindus dedicate sesayut dirghayusa and penyeneng offerings
to the Supreme God, Hyang Widhi Wasa.
|
|
|
|
