By: Wyn Suteja, EBPP Hindu religion teacher
Galungan Day is one of the most important holidays for Hindus, celebrated every 210 days in Bali, was celebrated on Wednesday 4th January. This feast day has the meaning of the victory of Dharma (righteousness) against Adharma (evil).
Before reaching its peak, Galungan begins with a series of ceremonies from a few days earlier:
Sugian Jawa: 6 days before Galungan, is meaningful for the purification of the universe; it aims to neutralize the forces of nature so as not to interfere in the form of natural disasters and plagues during the Galungan day.
Sugian Bali: 5 days before Galungan - is meaningful for the purification of the self and mind of every human being.
Penyekeban: 3 days before Galungan, which means control of lust and ego-nature.
Penyajan: 2 days before Galungan, means confirmation of the belief in the greatness and protection of God to all his people.
Penampahan day: 1 day before Galungan, which is a day of thanksgiving to God for all His mercy so that Hindus are able to carry out a series of Galungan ceremonies properly. The activities carried out on this day are: a) making “Penjor” (made of a bamboo poles erected in front of the house, decorated with coconut leaves, fruits, tubers, and leaves, as a symbol of prosperity), b) cook, prepare dishes for the ancestors for deceased family members, and also to eat with the family.
Galungan day: Today is the culmination of Galungan which is celebrated by praying with family at home and pretended around as a sign of victory for Hindus against the enemy within themselves in the form of negative qualities, anger, and evil passions that harm themselves and others.
This series of Galungan day activities ends the next day with the tradition of visiting relatives and having recreation as a sign of the gratitude that we enjoy from God
May the newly celebrated Galungan day bring benefits and goodness and happiness to all mankind. •
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