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)