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Occurring every 210 days (twice annually) on varying months, this festive Balinese family holiday of Galungan is the symbolic representation of the victory of Dharma (virtue) over Adharma (evil) as depicted in the Ramayana epic in which the deity Indra defeats Mayadenawa the Demon King. It is during this ten-day period that the Balinese believe the...
Traditionally, the ancient Gebug Ende dance was a rain dance performed during the dry season (usually June or July) in order to bring rain to the Bali Aga village of Seraya that is located in eastern Bali’s very arid Karangasem Regency. It was believed that the bloodletting during the ceremony would end the droughts in the region so it pitted...
Another large traditional festival that kicks off at Kuningan is the Hyang Api Cockfight which is held in the public hall at the Pura Hyang Api in Kelusa Village, Payangan, Gianyar Regency. This ‘Super Bowl of Cockfighting’ is the largest ‘deity-protected’ cockfighting event on the island and includes thousands of gamblers a...
Another one of the several sacred ceremonies held around the Kuningan holiday is Makotekan. It takes place only in Munggu Village, Mengwi and takes place from afternoon until night and is performed as a purification rite for the village that symbolizes the constant battle between good and evil. It begins with a procession of hundreds bearing sacred...
Also known as Perang Pandan, this ancient two-day ritual ceremony takes place once a year on Sasih Kalima (the fifth month in the Balinese calendar), usually in June or July, and is a fascinating and important part of the Sasih Sembah ceremony, the largest religious ceremony in the Bali Aga village of Tenganan. Celebrated in homage to Indra, ...
