In Reply to: Galungans Day - 11th August posted by Lynsey on Saturday, 24. July 2004 at 03:56 Bali Time:
Galungan has nothing at all to do with the triumph of good over evil. That's the last thing the Balinese would EVER think of! The whole success of the Balinese culture, indeed, the very roots of Hindu/Bali is to maintain balance between these opposing forces. Galungan is a time for family, prayer, and offerings, especially to ancestors. It is at this time that ancestors return to their former homes for three days, so they are given the total attention of the living.
If you've ever been to a Balinese compound, you likely have seen the ancestral temples. They are very easy to spot, as their roofs are covered in "duk" which at first appears like black alang alang, but it is not. It actually comes from the jaka tree, and is very different from alang alang.
Galungan is not a time of spectacle, and there are no big "public" displays for tourists. Galungan is celebrated within family compounds, and the center of attention is the area of ancestral temples. The tourist would be unlikely to even know Galungan is going on, except of course being noted by the millions of Penjors all across Bali. I shouldn't say, "all across Bali" however, as in some parts of Bali, Galungan is celebrated on other days. Having been raised in the states, I would liken Galungan to Thanksgiving, Mother's Day, Father's Day and Memorial Day, all tied up in one celebration. For the Balinese, Galungan, and Kuningan, which immediately follows Galungan, are the most important days of their lunar year.