23/07/2019
Selamat Hari Galungan and Kuningan 2019!
What's Galungan all about?
Galungan marks the victory of Dharma over Adharma, meaning the victory of honest duty and good over falsehood and an undutiful way of life. It marks the time when the ancestors and their spirits visit Earth till the last day of the festival, which is called Kuningan, when they leave again for the heavenly abode.
In modern times, this festival is celebrated in a big manner with much splendor. The streets of Bali are beautifully decorated with coconut leaf, fruits and flower bedecked bamboo poles known as βpenjorβ lining them on both sides (like in the picture). The festival traditionally involves the slaughtering of pigs for communal feasts and religious sacrifices, while other delicacies like rice cakes, satay, etc. are also prepared.
The Balinese people celebrate the festivities in brightly coloured costumes made of natural fibreβs. The Kebaya worn by women is traditionally white in colour and they wear vibrant sashes around their waists. But the festival is mainly associated with a triad of colours: red, white, and black referred to as Tri Datu. They represent the Hindu trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. These colours are seen everywhere during the festival; on homes, temples, buildings and areas where related rituals take place. During the festival, the Balinese wear red, white and black coloured threads on their wrists, ankles and heads to impart physical and mental strength.