In Reply to: What happens on Galungan posted by carbali on Thursday, 30. October 2008 at 14:09 Bali Time:
Taken in part from indonesialogue.....
Galungan occurs every 210 days in the Balinese cycle of days, Galungan marks the beginning of the most important recurring religious ceremony that is celebrated by all Balinese at the same time.
During the Galungan period the deified ancestors of the family descend to their former homes. They must be suitably entertained and welcomed, and prayers and offerings must be made for them. Those families who have ancestors that have not yet been cremated, but are still buried in the village cemetery, must make offerings at the graves.
Most Balinese begin their Galungan ‘holiday' the day before, where the family is seen to be busily preparing offerings and cooking for the next day.
The women are busy for days creating beautifully woven ‘banten‘ (offerings made from young coconut fronds), the men of our village usually wake up well before dawn to join with their neighbours to slaughter a pig.
Diced pork is mashed to a pulp with a grinding stone, and moulded onto sate sticks that have been already prepared by whittling small sticks of bamboo. Chickens may also be used with various vegetables, herbs and spices.
A long bamboo pole, or ‘penjor‘, is made to decorate the entrance to the family compound.
On the day of Galungan, most Balinese will try to return to their own ancestral home at some stage during the day, even if they work in another part of the island. This is a very special day for families, where offerings are made to God and to the family ancestors who have come back to rest at this time in their family temple. As well as the family temple, visits are made to the village temple with offerings as well, and to the homes of other families who may have helped the family in some way over the past six months.
The day after Galungan is a time for a holiday, visiting friends, maybe taking the opportunity to head for the mountains for a picnic. Everyone is still seen to be in their ‘Sunday best' as they take to the streets to enjoy the festive spirit that Galungan brings to Bali.
You will find many shops and restuarants start to close and staff leave to return to their village from afternoon of Galungan eve. Businesses reopen day after or 2 days after Galungan.
Nyepi eve, many also leave the tourist areas also to return to their village. No-one leaves their village or hotel, from early hours of Nyepi until 6am on day after Nyepi day.
I am guessing that from March 25th until March 29th, much of the stalls, markets, shops and restaurants will be either closed or greatly effected by the staff at their village.