Denpasar (VOI News) - The most revered religious festival on the Balinese calendar began on Wednesday with a celebration to welcome the island’s gods and ancestors’ to earth. According to Hindu beliefs, Galungan kicks off 10 days of colorful festivities that represent the triumph of good over evil.

 It is a hectic time for the Balinese who must make offerings and prepare food for their ancestors, who return to their former homes during the festival. Men also busy themselves by making penjor (bamboo poles adorned with intricate designs and patterns fashioned from young coconut leaves), which are then used to decorate the front of each house.

Many Balinese use the festival period to travel back to their ancestral homes and visit their friends and families. Celebrations also focus on the island’s many temples, where people go to pray and groups of traditional dancers perform the barong dance .

In Denpasar, Wednesday’s festivities were centered on the Jagatnatha temple, where thousands of locals started gathering in the early morning to offer prayers and gifts. To anticipate the large number of visitors, local officials erected a tent in front of the temple. “As with previous years, people will keep coming until the afternoon,” said Ida Bagus Ketut Japa, the temple’s administrator.

Galungan is celebrated about twice a year, according to the Balinese calendar, and all government agencies and public schools receive a two-day holiday during the festival period. When the gods and ancestors return to heaven at the end of the 10 days, the final and most important day of the festival, Kuningan, is celebrated. Kuningan, by contrast, is a subdued affair, with people giving thanks for safety, peace and wellbeing. JP

 

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