Galungan signifies a spiritual renewal
Galungan signifies a spiritual renewal
DENPASAR, Bali (ANTARA): Millions of Balinese Hindus solemnly celebrated Galungan yesterday.
Galungan, which fell on Wednesday, is one of the most important religious events for the Balinese Hindu and it is celebrated every six months (210 days) according to the Balinese calendar. Galungan will be followed by Kuningan, which marks the end of the Galungan period and lasts for 12 days. Galungan is a time for prayers, family-gatherings and offerings.
Numerous women and children clad in their best clothes thronged nearby temples and holy sites to pray and to present their special offerings, Antara reported.
Streets in cities and villages were adorned with decorative penjors, long bamboo poles hung with offerings. Penjors symbolize prosperity for the entire community. Schools and offices were closed and the lives of the Balinese were focused exclusively upon this sacred event.
Balinese people believe that their ancestors visit their familial descendants during the Galungan celebrations. Their living family members must entertain and welcome them with prayers, and prepare special offerings for them.
Nowadays, Galungan signifies a spiritual renewal, and an opportunity to improve the quality of people's lives, to increase working productivity and to protect the environment.
In his speech, Balinese governor Dewa Beratha told people that Galungan should involve introspection
He said ritual activities must be balanced by improvements in knowledge, greater tolerance, and the performance of good deeds.
"All efforts must be made to create harmonious relations between God and humans, and between humans and nature," the governor said.
He admonished the people to follow the right path in practicing their faith and performing their obligations as members of the society.
Meanwhile, I Ketut Wiana, chairperson of the Hindu Dharma Society, asserted that Galungan is a way to purify ourselves.
"Galungan is a triumph of dharma (virtue) against adharma (evil)," explained Wiana.
Wiana said that purity of hearts and minds will provide an opportunity for Indonesian people to overcome the various crises facing the nation.