The festive days of Valentine, Galungan, Kuningan, Nyepi
The months of Love and Religious Festivals
February is the month of romance as globally agreed. The most waited love festival for all to celebrate on 14 February 2020. The time has come for lovers to shower their life partners with love and surprisingly romantic gifts. Aside from that, the month is also the cultural festivity for the islanders in Hindu faith to celebrate a 210 day religious event in according to Balinese traditional calendar, Wuku. There come Galungan and Kuningan, similar to Christmas or Aid Mubarak. The community ritualizes the festivals on 19 February and 29 February 2020 respectively. Not long after, the Nyepi Day, known as the Day of Silence falls on 25 March 2020. Diverse offerings are prepared to enliven the religious days. The taksu of Bali is built upon conducting the series of ceremonies continuously. Taksu is literally translated into spiritual charm. It liberates the divine energy that draws people’s admiration to Bali Island. Let it resonate and feel its vibration.
Valentine Day, 14 February 2020
It brings our imagination to the celebrative flowers, chocolate, pink colour, dancing, romantic dining and hangout. Those make us so overwhelmed, excited and think to self what to do. No plan is a good plan. A spontaneous can be a miracle. If you have no idea for some reasons of how to celebrate it, let’s get it done for you. We offer a very special valentine getaway wrapped up in https://www.berryamourvillas.com/. It includes a 2 night accommodation, a romantic dinner, spa treatment, airport transfer and touring. On this festive day of love, Berry Amour Villas is the perfect place to redefine the flavor of your love suiting the love themed villas, Desire, Mystique and Temptation, either one you may opt for. Let it transcend your romantic experience.
The day of Galungan, 19 February 2020
The event cycles every 210 days according to Balinese traditional calendar, Wuku. It falls on every Wednesday, Dunggulan, one of the months in Wuku. The uniqueness of the celebration is the traditional snacks and the foods prepared that people devour only on these festive days. Two days before Galungan, called penyajaan (the special traditional cake-making day), women make jaje uli (steamed sticky rice cakes), tape (fermented sticky rice), and renggina (sundry cooked rice cake) that are normally used for the elements of the offerings and personal consumption. They also buy some fruits for the offerings. The day prior to Galungan is named penampahan, when the community prepare their most delicious foods for family. They slaughter the animals of pigs and chicken in particular. They enjoy the feasts with family on this festive day. Penjor, the decorative bamboo poles are erected to garnish the village walkways. They pray at the family temples and the three main temples of the villages in their best colourful traditional outfits. Women hold the mounting offerings on heads. On the following day, they visit their relatives to get together with laughs, giggles and funs. This is also the day for the ancestors to descend celebrating the festive day together. The special offerings are prepared for the deities.
Kuningan Day, 29 February 2020
Ten days later, Kuningan day follows. Kuningan means nguningin in Balinese term. It refers to ‘reminding’ the ancestors that the celebration is over. It is time for the deities to return to the heaven, their afterlife realm. Nguningin also means making it yellow. Cooking the yellow rice – turmeric mixed with rice signifies the day of Kuningan. The side dishes are almost similar to Galungan day but slightly lighter. They pray again to include going to the beach to worship the God of Baruna, the God of the Sea who governs the ocean. The highlight of this day is that you see the community put on their traditional outfits in light yellow colour. What they are wearing reflects the celebrative day. It is an inspiring traditional living that we need to preserve. No people come into possession of a culture without having paid a heavy price for it, James Baldwin.
The Day of Silence, 25 March 2020
One day before, people arrange a huge offering, tawur agung kesanga. The offering is presented for Butha kala, the underworlds. It is prepared in the crossroads, the common place where they flock together, at sandi kala, the transition time from the day into the night. The interval is believed when the underworld creatures travel out from their hidings. People also beat anything bang-able to make a noise that awakens them. Sooner they wake up, see the offerings, and munch it immediately. The offerings purposely aim at appeasing them. Ogoh-ogoh, the big scary looking effigies-made of bamboo frame and papers are in parade for the entertainments in the evening on 24 March 2020. It may absorb millions in making one. It is a tourist attraction-worth seeing.
In the morning 25 March 2020, when the underworld creatures realize no people seen wandering on the entire roads because they all stay indoors, the evils may think that the islanders have abandoned. They with coarse characters will have no one to intrude anymore. So, they will leave the island. On 26 March 2020, there comes a newly born island together with the islanders in the state of returning to the saints. It is time for the islanders to start a new life. It is indeed the most unique New Year celebration in the globe. The community do it in the ways of silence and darkness. The island is shut down and deserted within 24 hours. No light. No travel. This is of how Balinese participate in saving the earth. Let’s fully embrace the serene vibe of Paradise Island, Bali. For further info, please click https://www.balitravelhub.com/events.
