Holiday Descriptions

Bali Arts Festival features performances, exhibits, crafts such as jewelry, paintings and fabrics on display and for sale. At the Art Centre in Denpasar and elsewhere around the island.

Bali Kite Festival is held at the Padang Galak area of Sanur Beach.

Bali Spirit Festival in Ubud celebrates yoga, dance, music and other meditative practices..

Banyu Pinaruh, the day after Saraswati Day, is when Balinese go, at dawn, to beaches, rivers or other water sources, to pray for wisdom and to purify themselves.

Ciwaratri or Siwaratri is the night of the god Siwa (Shiva). A time for contemplation and purification, the Balinese do not sleep for one night.

Full moon is celebrated in Bali's villages. In some cases the exact date of the full moon may differ, depending upon the source of the calculations. In those cases we've listed multiple dates.

Galungan is the most important holiday in Bali. It represents the victory of Dharma (virtue) over Adharma (evil). A symbol of the holiday is a "penjor," which is a long bamboo pole elaborately decorated with woven coconut leaves, fruit, flowers and cakes. The penjor is placed on the right side of every house entrance, making for a very festive, colorful scene in all the villages. The Balinese dress in their very best clothes and jewels on Galungan. Penyajan is the start of the Galungan holiday period. The day prior to Galungan is Penampahan (cooking day). The day following Galungan is Manis or Umanis, which is set aside for visiting family.

Idul Fitri is a Moslem holiday in Indonesia, celebrating the conclusion of Ramadhan.

Imlek is the Chinese New Year.

Isra Mi'raj is a Moslem holiday celebrating the Ascension of Muhammad.

Kuningan is the second most important day of the Balinese Hindu calendar. The Balinese attend religious services and make offerings to the gods. At the holy spring temple Tirta Empul, at Tampaksiring, people partake in a ritual purification, bathing in the spring.

Melasti is a purification ceremony that takes place at the beach several days prior to Nyepi.

New moon is of note in Bali and in some cases it plays a role in determing the dates of holidays and festivals.

Nyepi Day is the Balinese New Year in the Saka calendar. Held at the spring equinox, it is observed as a day of complete silence. On this day there is no transportation, no fires may be lit, no work is done and no one should be seen on the roads. Silence is important so that the spirits, which were aroused the night before, will think that Bali is empty and will, therefore, leave the island. The following day is Ngembak Geni Day when the island comes alive again.

Ogoh-ogoh is a parade held on Pengerupukan (also known as Tawur Kesanga), the night prior to the Balinese New Year. It is highlighted by a representation of the evil spirit. On this same day, purification sacrifices and offerings are made in village centers and at crossroads, throughout the island. Priests chant mantras to exorcise the demons (kala and buta) of the old year. In the evening people bang gongs and cymbals in the corners of houses, and parade through the streets with flaming torches, in order to arouse evil spirits. The parade follows Tawur, a morning ceremony and Ngerupuk, an early evening ritual ceremony. Earlier in the day, in Denpasar, a major ritual called Mecaru takes place.

Pagerwesi which is particularly popular in northern Bali, celebrates Sang Hyang Pramesti Guru, god of teachers and creator of the universe. Offerings are made to stave off evil forces. Offerings are also made for the uncremated dead.

Pancasila Day is a newly declared (2016) public holiday in Indonesia. It celebrates a speech given by Indonesia's first president, President Sukarno, on June 1, 1945, in which he laid out the five principles by which Indonesia should be governed. "Panca" means "five" and "sila" means "principle" in Bahasa Indonesia.

Ramadhan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar during which Moslems fast during the daytime hours. It commemorates the month in which the Quran was first revealed.

Saraswati Day is in honor of Batari Dewi Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge. Though no reading or writing is allowed on this day, books are taken to the goddess to be blessed.

Sugihan is a holy day for purification.

Tumpek Krulut celebrates the arts.

Tumpek Landep is in celebration of all tools and appliances made of iron (knives, cars, televisions, etc.). There are various temple festivals on this day.

Tumpek Uduh or Tumpek Wariga is the day that honors the god of food plants. Blessings are given for good crops.

Tumpek Uye or Tumpek Kandang is the day dedicated to the god in manifestation of Rare Angon, through a ceremony for animals.

Tumpek Wayang is a ceremony for the leather puppets used in Shadow Puppet performances.

Waisak (a Buddhist holiday) celebrates the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha. The most important festivities take place at Borobudur near Yogyakarta in central Indonesia.