Balinese practice their Hindu
differently from those originated in India. Much of its astonishment,
Hinduism
blossom in this island for centuries and have surpassed the
influx of Islam that flooded to its neighboring islands. Though
Balinese Hinduism shares the same conceptual from those of India,
the daily practice and tradition are very much different. Through-out
the years, it adapts new methods, and still holds the traditional
values that inherited by their grandparents.
Balinese has many sacred day throught out their calendar. The
traditional Balinese method of years consists of pawukon or
based on 'WUKU' and 'Wewaran' that based on 'wara'. Holy days
are calculaten by these method.
Balinese Calendar is a little complicated even to the Balinese
themselves. Therefor not everyone in the community are able
to count the date correctly. However inventions of modern calendars
has significantly change it and nowadays balinese can just look
over the calendar (with holy day marked on it) to attain the
information they need.
There are many Hari Raya (holy days) to celebrate through out
the years and tourist should not be worry of missing it. There
are howeever, famous Hari Raya that are just too good to missed,
like the Balinese new year of Nyepi, Galungan
and Kungingan day, or even the Tumpeks and Pagerwesi. Below
is a little explanation and history of what they are to the
Balinese and how they are important to the people of Bali.
The year 2005, we will perhaps experience one of the busiest
festivity season with Galungan and Kuningan as well as Nyepi
(Balinese new year) and new moon celebrated within a very short
interval (6 days). Time interval will be as below:
March 3rd Sugihan Jawa
March 4th Sugihan Bali + Kajeng Kliwon sacred day
March 8th Manis Galungan
March 9th Galungan
Marh 10th Manis Galungan + New Moon prayer
March 10th Tawur Kesanga -- COINCIDENTLY this is also the last
day of the Balinese Calendar. So people will be celebrating
the new years of Balinese by making noises to scare the devil
away
March 11th Nyepi day or Quiet day
March 12th Ngembak Geni
March 19th Kuningan -- marks the end of the festivial.
See below for explanation of the each calendar of events
