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Galungan

Galungan is one of the most important Balinese holidays along with Nyepi Day. Galungan day is celebrated excessively in every region in Bali every 210 days due to the Balinese calendar system.

The word Galungan is derived from Ancient Javanese word Dungulan which means victory or battle. In Balinese Galungan has the same meaning as Dungulan which also means victory. It is said to be the day when goodness won the battle against badness. Galungan is celebrated to remind humans that they should always fight the battle against bad habit, evil desires and inappropriate behaviors.

Galungan is a sequence of celebrations starting withh Sugihan Jawa and ends with Kuningan Day. On Sugihan Jawa, six days before Galungan Day, the Balinese make offerings to purify the universe.

The next day, they make offerings to purify themselves; this is called Sugihan Bali.

Three days before Galungan is called Penyekeban, spiritually it means to keep your mind away from evil entities called Butha Galungan.

The day two days before Galungan is called Penyajaan, literally it means making offering cookies; spiritually it means to focus your mind (through meditation).

The day before Galungan is called Penampahan-a Balinese word which means slaughter. Some people usually slaughter pig as a symbol of laziness and other bad habits and use the meats for offerings given to the evil entities so that they won’t annoy the harmony of the universe.

On Galungan Day itself, the Balinese make offerings, decorate their houses and temples, the whole family is usually gathered and pray and visit temples together. The most noticeable characteristic of Galungan is a decoration called penjor. Penjors are large bamboo pols  decorated with coconut leaves, fruits, seeds, tubers, and coconuts which represent the content of nature and you’ll se penjors raised outside the Balinese homes.

The day after Galungan is called Manis Galungan; it is a day to remember the joy of Galungan, Balinese usually go visiting their relatives this day or spend time with family.

The day ten days after Galungan is called as Kuningan, and indicates the end of Galungan celebrations.

On Galungan Day, the Balinese make offerings, decorate their houses and temples, the whole family is usually gathered and pray and visit temples together. The most noticeable characteristic of Galungan is a decoration called penjor. Penjors are large bamboo pols  decorated by coconut leaves, fruits, seeds, tubers, and coconuts which represent the content of nature and you’ll se penjors raised outside the Balinese homes.

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