In Bali your name is very important for the development of your character. At birth a personal name is decided upon for the baby, but many people may not know what the name of someone else is because he or she is more likely to be called by some nickname…
Nyepi (Balinese New Year)
Determined by the Lunar (Saka) Calendar in Bali, Nyepi (Balinese New Year) falls on the day after the new moon that occurs somewhere between mid-March & mid-April each year. Nyepi is perhaps the most unique of all festivals celebrated in Bali, as the whole island comes to a standstill on…
Purnama & Tilem (Full & New Moon)
‘Purnama’, the day of a ‘full moon’ & ‘Tilem’, the day of a ‘new moon’, are special days for the Balinese. On this day extra offerings are made around the family compound, as well as some offerings placed on the ground at the entrance to the house compound. The towering…
Tumpek Landep
Today is a special day set aside on the Balinese calendar to give thanks to the creation of metal goods. Specific offerings are made in the home for kitchen implements, garden tools and metallic parts of machinery, vehicles, etc that they might have. Builders generally take a day’s rest today…
Kajeng Kliwon
Every fifteen days on the Balinese calendar, a three-day cycle (Pasah, Galang Tegeh, and Kajeng) and a five-day cycle (Umanis, Paing, Pon, Wage and Kliwon) end as the day called Kajeng Kliwon. On this day extra offerings are made in the house compound, and offerings are placed at the front entrance gate on the ground, burning a coconut…
Odalan (Temple Anniversary)
Bali has been given many names in its colourful history, one of which is the ‘Island of Temples’. Depending on what is classified as a ‘temple’ in Bali, there are tens of thousands of them scattered throughout the island, each of which has an ‘odalan’ (anniversary) every 210 days (6…
Kuningan
Also occurring once in every 210 days in the Balinese cycle of days, Kuningan is the end of the most important of the regular religious ceremonies for the 10-day Galungan period. During this period the deified ancestors of the family descend to their former homes. They must be suitably entertained…
Galungan
Occurring once in every 210 days in the Balinese cycle of days, Galungan marks the beginning of the most important recurring religious ceremony that is celebrated by all Balinese at the same time. During the Galungan period the deified ancestors of the family descend to their former homes. They must…