At any time in the year, the people of Bali are very likely celebrating one of many festivals that are spread all though their wuku calendar. Balinese celebrations are essentially defined by the people's spiritual beliefs and religious practices. They centre around the numerous Hindu gods and demigods, the spirits of their ancestors and the deities of crop that feed the earth that provides their food. They can involve animal sacrifices, ornamented temples, parades to the sea, the booming of the gamelan, nights of atonement, sumptuous feasts and entire days of silence.
Tourists are always very welcome to take part the festivities. Of course, it is a Balinese trademark to cheerfully receive visitors from foreign lands. But it is also important to comprehend the spirit that moves each colorful holiday. Have a look at some of the largest festivals that the inhabitants of Bali celebrate each year.
Melasti . On the day before the Balinese New Year, the locals dress up in their best garments and walk to the ocean or the inland springs, bringing with them colourful umbrellas, boxes of fruits and flowers and other offerings to honour the powerful waters of the ocean. They also carry the three sacred statues, Arca, Pratima and Pralingga and wash them with seawater while the men, women and children roar and dance for joy to the music of the gamelan. At night, on the eve of the New Year, the Balinese come together on the streets to observe a purification ritual in the form of a parade of ogoh-ogoh, enormous monster dolls that represent the malignant spirits that yearly visit the island.
Nyepi . The Balinese New Year is a day of silence, meditation and, for some, fasting. Everyone is expected to remain inside and do some self-examination after the commotion raised during the previous day's celebrations. No fires are lit and no indulgences are sated. Even travellers are asked to remain indoors their hotels on this day. All businesses even the lone Balinese airport, are closed and the hotels may provide limited service. It is believed the noxious spirits that have taken up abode in Bali will mistake the silent island for an uninhabited island and will therefore flee, making way for a fresh, new start for the incoming year.
Odalan . An odalan is a temple holiday that usually lasts three days to a week. People celebrate odalan for one thing only-to please the deities to whom these temples were built. The churches are adorned with palms leaves, flowers and towers made of bamboo on the day before the official start of the odalan. The festival sometimes starts with a reflective prayer known commonly as a muspa and is followed by the throwing of rice and holy water by the high priest. Afterwards, it is pure spectacular merrymaking from there, with a lot of dancing, feasting and parading on the streets.
Galungan. Galungan is the most meaningful day of the Balinese calendar, as it is assumed that the gods and the spirits of their ancestors come back down to earth on this day and celebrate with them the success of Good (Dharma) over Evil (Adharma). It is like Christmas in other parts of the world. Ladies prepare for this important day a month before it comes, weaving intricate patterns of coconut leaves, flowers and brightly-coloured fabric into a bamboo pole that's erected to the right side of their houses, while men select their fattest, juiciest pigs to please the palate of the gods and the friends and family who come visit.
Tourists are always very welcome to take part the festivities. Of course, it is a Balinese trademark to cheerfully receive visitors from foreign lands. But it is also important to comprehend the spirit that moves each colorful holiday. Have a look at some of the largest festivals that the inhabitants of Bali celebrate each year.
Melasti . On the day before the Balinese New Year, the locals dress up in their best garments and walk to the ocean or the inland springs, bringing with them colourful umbrellas, boxes of fruits and flowers and other offerings to honour the powerful waters of the ocean. They also carry the three sacred statues, Arca, Pratima and Pralingga and wash them with seawater while the men, women and children roar and dance for joy to the music of the gamelan. At night, on the eve of the New Year, the Balinese come together on the streets to observe a purification ritual in the form of a parade of ogoh-ogoh, enormous monster dolls that represent the malignant spirits that yearly visit the island.
Nyepi . The Balinese New Year is a day of silence, meditation and, for some, fasting. Everyone is expected to remain inside and do some self-examination after the commotion raised during the previous day's celebrations. No fires are lit and no indulgences are sated. Even travellers are asked to remain indoors their hotels on this day. All businesses even the lone Balinese airport, are closed and the hotels may provide limited service. It is believed the noxious spirits that have taken up abode in Bali will mistake the silent island for an uninhabited island and will therefore flee, making way for a fresh, new start for the incoming year.
Odalan . An odalan is a temple holiday that usually lasts three days to a week. People celebrate odalan for one thing only-to please the deities to whom these temples were built. The churches are adorned with palms leaves, flowers and towers made of bamboo on the day before the official start of the odalan. The festival sometimes starts with a reflective prayer known commonly as a muspa and is followed by the throwing of rice and holy water by the high priest. Afterwards, it is pure spectacular merrymaking from there, with a lot of dancing, feasting and parading on the streets.
Galungan. Galungan is the most meaningful day of the Balinese calendar, as it is assumed that the gods and the spirits of their ancestors come back down to earth on this day and celebrate with them the success of Good (Dharma) over Evil (Adharma). It is like Christmas in other parts of the world. Ladies prepare for this important day a month before it comes, weaving intricate patterns of coconut leaves, flowers and brightly-coloured fabric into a bamboo pole that's erected to the right side of their houses, while men select their fattest, juiciest pigs to please the palate of the gods and the friends and family who come visit.
About the Author:
Salim B Kho enjoys travelling and providing info on the locations he visits to benefit other travelers. For more information about enjoying Bali, please visit Salim's Facebook page.
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