Author: Editorial

Bali Religious Ceremonies for 2014

Bali Religious Ceremonies for 2014

Posted by | Nov 15, 2013 | , |

  There are festivals and ceremonies all year round in Bali but there are only a few that you need to take careful note of as you don’t want to miss experiencing these.  You also need to understand what is acceptable from a tourist during these ceremonies in order to allow freedom of tourists joining in future.  Show respect, take photos where allowed and soak up the magic of these Bali religious ceremonies. It doesn’t matter what religion you are or if you don’t follow any spiritual path… these events have life lessons in them that we all can...

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Bali Calendar

Posted by | Nov 14, 2013 | |

Apart from the everyday Western calendar, the Balinese also use two local calendars, the saka calendar, this  is a lunar calendar starting every Nyepi.  The Pawukon calendar is a numerica calendar of 210 days per year. The Pawukon calendar (a piece shown above) is used to determine festival dates. There are 2 key events in the Pawukon calendar.  Nyepi is the day of silence and marks the start of the Saka year and Tilem Kepitu, the last day of the 7th month, is known as Siwa Latri, and is a night dedicated to the god Shiva. Devotees stay up all night and meditate. There are another 24 ceremonial days in the Saka year, usually celebrated at Purnama   Share...

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Making the ogoh-ogoh for Nyepi

Making the ogoh-ogoh for Nyepi

Posted by | Nov 13, 2013 | , |

The main purpose of ogoh-ogoh is a symbol of Bhuta Kala, made ​​ahead of Nyepi Day and paraded around the village abuzz and eventually burned to charred. It is one of many rituals practiced surrounding Nyepi. According to the scholars and adherents of Balinese Hinduism, the ceremony ngrupuk is symbolizes human consciousness to the greatness of the universe and the circulation period. The greatness of the Great Bhuana include power (of the universe) and Bhuana Alit (human beings). In view of Tattwa (philosophy), this power can determine at any living being, especially human beings and the whole world towards...

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Nyepi day /silent day

Posted by | Nov 13, 2013 | , |

Nyepi is a balinese “Day of Silence” that is commemorated every Isakawarsa (Saka new year) according to the Balinese calendar (in 2014, it falls onMarch 31). It is a Hindu celebration mainly celebrated in Bali. Nyepi, a public holiday in Indonesia, is a day of silence, fasting and meditation for the Balinese. The day following Nyepi is also celebrated as New Year’s Day. Nyepi is observed from 6 a.m. until 6 a.m. the next morning. It is a day reserved for self reflection and as such, anything that might interfere with that purpose is restricted. The main restrictions are: no lighting fires (and lights must be kept low); no working; no entertainment or pleasure; no traveling; and for some, no talking or eating at all. The effect of these prohibitions is that Bali’s usually bustling streets and roads are empty, there is little or no noise from TVs and radios, and few signs of activity are seen even inside homes. The only people to be seen outdoors are the Pecalang, traditional security men who patrol the streets to ensure the prohibitions are being followed. Although Nyepi is primarily a Hindu holiday, non-Hindu residents of Bali observe the day of silence as well, out of respect for their fellow citizens. Even tourists are not exempt; although free to do as they wish inside their hotels, no one is allowed onto...

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Sanghyang Dance (The Dance of Spirits)

Posted by | Nov 12, 2013 | |

The Sanghyang dance is included in trance dance genre. This dance is believed to have the power to invite the gods or sacred spirits to enter the body of the dancers and put them in a state of trance. It dates back to the ancient Pre-Hindu culture, a time when the Balinese people strongly believed that by the help of Holy Spirit through a medium of dancer sickness and disease could be eliminated. The is dance is usually performed in the fifth or sixth month of the Balinese traditional calendar as it is believe that during these particular months, the Balinese are vulnerable to all kinds of illnesses, or in the time of plague, failed crops or disaster. There are 6 kinds of sanghyang dance widely known by the people: Sangyang Dedari, Sanghyang Deling, Sanghyang Jaran, Sanghyang Bojog, Sanghyang Celeng and Sanghyang Grobogan. Sanghyang Jaran is a kind of trance dance in which the entranced dancers imitate the the movement of soldier on horseback. It is said that in Sanghyang Jaran dance, the dancers are possessed by ancestral deity, a Gandarwa (celestial soldier) on horseback. The dancers for this sacred dance are usually the Pemangku (temple priest) or a group of chosen men, that are put into trance with wafted of incense and chorus of Sanghyang song. In the state of trance the dancer fall, convulsed to the ground...

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