Enjoy The Holiday With Balinese Celebration Galungan
Are you planning a vacation in Bali? Well, how about enjoying the holidays with the Balinese celebration? Experience the Balinese culture by celebrating the one and only, most-awaited, Galungan.
Bali, an island of Indonesia, rich in forested mountains, beaches, and rice paddies. There is also a tranquil side of Bali which offers yoga and meditation retreat. But the most important and grand festival on the island is Galungan, which is just like a Diwali festival in India and Christmas in western countries. If you are bathing in every element of the island, why left the grand festival, which will show you the traditional and cultural side.
You should not miss out to see and imbibe every color of the island. Galungan is 10-day celebration starting with Penyekeban (to cook bananas for offering), which is celebrated 3 days before the Galungan. Next is Penyajaan, observed 2 days before. Jaja, colored cakes made up of fried rice dough is cooked on this day. A day before the main festival is celebrated Penampahan, pigs or chickens are slaughtered by Balinese for the feast.
Then comes the most awaiting day, not by Balinese only but also by masses who have come from around the world to witness, Galungan Day. On this day, the Balinese pray and make an offering to the spirits. This celebration does not end here, a day after Manis Galungan is observed. Balinese pay a visit to their families and friends to celebrate. Kuningan marks the end of the festival with special offerings of yellow rice, which is observed on the 10th day.
During the festival, you will see the whole island is covered with tall bamboos or penjor. Penjor is festooned with fruits, flowers, leaves, and coconut and is present at every residence on their right side of the entrance.
Galungan is a festival of victory of good over evil and to honor the spirits of the ancestors. It is believed that ancestors' spirits come to earth with the starting of the celebration and return on Kuningan day. At this time, local restaurants offer a variety of Balinese food. You can plan to dine in their local restaurant to taste the mouthwatering native cuisine rich in herbs and spices. It is celebrated twice in a year.
Galungan will be observed from 19, February 2020 to 29, February 2020 and 16, September 2020 to 26, September 2020. If you are planning on visiting Bali, make your schedule as such that you get to witness the cultural and traditional environment of Bali, because it’s not every day you get to see the cultural side of the country.
So excited about witnessing all this? Well, Pickyourtrail is there to plan a perfect trip to Bali for you. We also have exciting Bali tour packages. So contact us, and let’s plan your trip together.