In Reply to: Ceremonies posted by quirkyartist on Friday, 8. September 2006 at 11:17 Bali Time:
Chinese people in Bali celebrate the new year celebration and Hindu in Bali celebrate the "Tilem Kepitu" the dark moon on the seventh month on Balinese calendar, which is the last part of Ciwa Ratri ceremony. Tilem Kepitu believed as the day when God blesses all beings after doing all fasting and commandments. On that day everybody give offerings and pray to God and ask for bless for the future.
Tilem Kepitu is the day when fasting is ended and all people promise to always follow the commandments. Fasting was done for 36 hours and stay awake for 2 x 24 hours and it was ended on January 29, 2006 then people will continue their duty in life as a normal people after this ceremony.
Why Tilem Kepitu is so important for Hindu in Bali?
This dark moon is the holiest dark moon or the peak of all dark moon as it is believed that the dark moon is the time when God meditate for the universe and bless all beings, therefore people prepare them self from the day before the dark moon to be blessed and to purify themself. Hindu does fasting for 36 hours and stay awake for 2 days until they got the bless.
Hindu in Bali believe that the most bless is given during the Ciwi Ratri, since God Ciwa bless all beings and universe directly without any messengers. This is the reason why the Tilem Kepitu is so important for Hindu in Bali.
On this day wish God has blessed all the people and the whole universe and after this day the whole world becoming better and better.
(Information from a Bali site about Dark moon Ceremonies)