One of the most regularly observed rituals in the temples in Bali is the Hindu ceremony of Odalan. Generally speaking Odalan is a festival to observe a temple’s anniversary. Most of the people observe Odalan for religious reasons rather than an occasion for merriment. With 4,539 temples around the island, as recorded by the Religious Affairs Ministry in 2011, multiple Odalan rituals happen every day.

The process of Odalan in a private temple usually lasts all day. The essentials of the ritual are a Hindu priest, gamelan players, offerings, dancers and meals for the congregation members. Relatives gather early to prepare for the ceremony. While waiting for the priest, they set up their offerings at the altar; each family brings their own offerings. A couple of men take turns in reciting prayers on a microphone.

Given the special occasion, offerings made for Odalan are more sumptuous than those served on a daily basis. Offerings for Odalan could contain money – usually Rp 1,000 (10 US cents) to Rp 2,000 – and other things like grilled chicken or a roast pig. As the sun rises, the large amount of offerings brought by the relatives turn the small temple into a sea of offerings. At around 3 p.m., the priest arrives to lead the ritual. With the common occurrence of multiple Odalans in one day, booking a priest is necessary. You cannot always expect the priest to come early, as he must go to several locations.