Balinese fete 'Galungan' in modest way

Balinese fete 'Galungan' in modest way

DENPASAR, Bali (JP): Bali's Hindus celebrated Galungan, one of
Hindu's biggest holidays, yesterday in a modest and solemn way.

Hundreds of thousands of Balinese flocked to the nearest pura
(temple) to pray and give offerings to the Deity and ancestors.

Children wore their best clothes, women and girls wore lavish
songket (woven cloth adorned with gold or silver thread), teamed
with brocade kebaya (traditional blouses), and men and boys
dressed in white shirts over traditional songket or endek (cotton
sarong), and white udeng (headbands).

On their heads, women carried mountains of colorful offerings
comprising jaja (traditional cakes), tropical fruit, rice and
meat -- chicken or pork -- as symbols of their gratitude to the
Creator.

Houses, offices and public places were beautifully decorated
with penjor (long bamboo poles hung with offerings and young
coconut leaves).

Galungan, which happens every 210 days, and this year it fell
on Feb. 28, is an important religious event to celebrate the
triumph of Dharma (good deeds) over Adharma (misdeeds).

During the Galungan ceremony yesterday, Bali Governor Dewa
Beratha emphasized the importance of maintaining religious
tolerance and harmony.

"We deeply thank all Balinese for preventing any religious
conflict and for preserving harmonious relationships between
humans and God based on their beliefs," he said.

Governor Beratha went on to say that there might be no ethnic
or religious conflicts in the country provided that Indonesians
practice their religions in proper ways, practice them in their
daily lives and respect other people's rights.

Indonesian Hindu Body chairman, I Ketut Wiana, said that
Galungan was the right time for all religious believers,
including Hindus, to improve the quality of their religious lives
and to enhance brotherhood among ethnic members in the country in
the face of possible disintegration threats.

"Ethnic and religious conflicts are now happening in some
parts of Indonesia. It can happen anywhere, including in Bali,"
warned Wiana.

Galungan is a time for prayer, family get-togethers and
offerings. Almost no work is done between Galungan and Kuningan,
which falls 10 days after Galungan. Schools and offices were
closed for at least three days to allow Hindu students and
workers to celebrate with their families.

During this period, the deified ancestors of the family
descend to their former homes, and they must be "entertained" and
welcomed with prayers and offerings. Families with deceased
relatives who are buried and have not yet been cremated -- thus
not yet deified -- must make offerings at the graves.

The life of most villagers mostly concentrates exclusively on
events surrounding this very sacred period. On the Sunday before
Galungan, called Panyekeban, taken from Balinese word sekeh (to
cover up), green bananas are sealed in huge clay pots upon which
a small coconut-husk fire burns. Lots of bananas are required for
Galungan offerings, and this heat treatment ripens them quickly.

The next day, Penyajaan, is devoted to making the many
colored cakes of fried rice.

On the day before Galungan, Penampahan -- from nampah (to
slaughter an animal) -- pigs or turtles are killed for the
traditional Galungan morning feasts. Turtle meat is now
prohibited due to drastic drops in turtle populations.

Featured at these feasts is the traditional lawar, a spicy
hash made of finely ground meat and many spices.

The day after Galungan -- called manis Galungan because it
falls on the day Umanis of the Hindu five-day-week -- is time for
visiting families and friends.

On March 10, Balinese will celebrate Kuningan which marks the
end of Galungan celebrations. It is a time for family gatherings,
prayers and still more offerings, as ancestors return to heaven.
(raw/Murdani Usman)