Purnama  – Full Moon 

Purnama, or full moon, is a very special day in Bali when the gods descend upon the island to spread goodwill. During the full moon, colorful ceremonies are held in Temples in almost every corner of Bali. Prayers, music and celebration take place, an elaborate affair for the locals with thousands coming outside to pay their respect. The full moon marks a special day for various traditional festivities. Among the many beliefs of the Balinese are their devotion to the Moon and its different phases, with the full moon or Purnama, being the most sacred. It is during the full moon that the Gods descend to the island to provide blessings. As part of these blessings, god also honors his people by bringing prosperity to the land. The Balinese will usually make offerings at the temples as well as at their homes that consist of fresh foods, fruits and colorful flowers. Making offerings is often accompanied by the performance of various rituals, like the Melukat Purification Ceremony. This includes bathing in holy waters as an act of cleansing, burning incense in order to chase away evil spirits as well as the use of flower petals and grains of rice. 

When         02 September 2020
Where        All over Bali. Ceremonies are conducted at temples and villages around the island.

Galungan

Galungan is one of the most important Balinese holidays which honor the creator of the universe (Ida Sang Hyang Widi) and the ancestral spirits. It marks the victory of Dharma over Adharma (the triumph of good over evil) at a time when ancestral spirits of deceased relatives visit the Earth. The most obvious sign of the celebrations are the penjor - bamboo poles with offerings which are erected along the edges of streets everywhere. The poles have colorful decorations that will often include rice, fruits, flowers and leaves from the coconut tree. Offerings will consist of special foods, scented flowers and a woven palm offering. During the peak celebration the Balinese put on their finest clothes to visit the neighbors and relatives. At the end of the celebrations, the ancestral spirits go back to their home, and this is marked by offerings of yellow rice to mark the end of Galungan.
Event times: 
Penyekeban:       3 days before (Cooking of bananas for offerings)
Penyajaan:          2 days before (Making of jaja - fried rice cakes)
Penampahan:      1 day before (Slaughtering of pigs or chicken for feasts)
Manis Galungan:  1 day after (Visiting family)
Kuningan:             10 days after (Prayers, offerings - spirits return to heaven)
Manis Kuningan:   11 days after (Fun)

When           15 – 17 September 2020
Where         throughout Bali. Ceremonies are held at temples and villages around the island.

Tilem – New Moon

The Tilem ceremony also called ‘dark moon ceremony’ is dedicated to Dewa Surya (the god of sun) Hindu Balinese are expected to worship and pray with a series of yadnya ritual at the village temple in the afternoon. Tilem is believed as a special day to purify spiritually and physically by saying a prayer. Before conducting Tilem ceremony, the body must first be cleaned by bathing: this is very important, as within a pure soul, lays a crystal clear mind. The new moon is intimately connected and inseparable with the full moon day. However, some big ceremonies fall in tilem day, such as: Kesanga Tawur on Tilem Kesanga (the ninth tilem of the year), Siwa Ratri on the seventh tilem of the year, Eka Dasa Rudra, a very big ceremony which occurs every 100 years on Tilem Kesanga, and Panca Wali Krama at Besakih temple which is held every 10 years on Tilem Sasih Kesanga.

When         17 September 2020
Where        Throughout Bali. Ceremonies are conducted at temples and villages around the island.

Kuningan

The Balinese belief that on Kuningan day the spirits of their ancestors return to heaven after visiting the earth and their families and friends for the Galungan festivities. So Kuningan marks the end of the 10 day festival with ceremonies and special offerings made of yellow rice. Kuning is the word for ‘yellow’ and that is also the color of the god Wishnu, the protector of the Hindu trinity. Try to catch a glimpse at the colorful event of the well-dressed Balinese in their ceremonial clothes. In some of the smaller villages you may see some Barong dance performances along the streets. Visitors are welcome to join and watch.
 

When         26 September 2020
Where        Throughout Bali. Ceremonies are conducted at temples and villages around the island.

yoga ayurveda or healing energy retreats directly by the ocean
Yoga, Ayurveda or Healing Energy Retreats directly by the oc...
Weekly

What weather to expect when travelling to Bali in September

Look forward to mostly perfect weather conditions for all kinds of activities. With less humidity, a cool breeze and shallow waters all kinds of sports, spa treatments and sightseeing will be a pleasure. This month is an insider view for all these who want see the tropical paradise shown from its best side. Typically the central highlands and the area around Ubud are cooler and also rainier than the lower coastal areas. Sometimes at night temperatures can drop significantly in the mountains and highlands. Be prepared and bring warmer clothes for your trip there especially when you are planning a hike up the volcanoes. Bring plenty of sunscreen for the beach and sightseeing days. If it´s still getting too hot for you during the daytime take a relaxing spa timeout or visit some of the amazing yoga studios for a refreshing session with meditation. Magic Bali offers an unbelievably wide variety of activities for all tastes, budgets and weather conditions. Let yourself get swept along on an adventurous tour through this amazing Island of the Gods.

 

You would like to know about more holistic Bali experiences? Register for our newsletter and receive regular news on Ceremonies, Top Events, Retreats and Offerings in Bali as well as special offers for Amazing Bali Retreats, YTTs and Holistic Businesses.