Just about a week after Nyepi, the Balinese New Year and ‘Day of Silence’, the island now turns its focus to another major holiday.
Banks, government agencies, educational institutions, and offices across Bali closed down on Wednesday for Galungan to give Balinese Hindus the opportunity to celebrate.
Galungan is the Balinese feast holiday that falls twice a year to celebrate the triumph of good (dharma) over evil (adharma) and is followed ten days later by Kuningan. The first Galungan of 2017 falls on April 5, while Kuningan is April 15.
Dotting the streets and adorning the homes of Balinese families, you’ll see penjor, long bamboo sticks decorated with coconuts leaves—aka Bali’s Christmas tree.
Bali’s governor, Made Mangku Pastika addressed the island, urging Hindus to stick to the true essence of Galungan and reflect on the struggle of good over evil within each individual.
“Let us think together, if we already have a positive nature, as with the teachings of the dharma. If so, then we’ve allowed dharma to win over a dharma and are worthy to celebrate Galungan,” Pastika said on Sunday, as quoted by the Rancah Post.
