Festival & Ceremony in Bali

Tumpek Uduh: 16 October 2021
Tumpek Uduh is a day dedicated to the blessing of plants in Bali. It's especially for those that produce fruits and flowers. On this day, households bless their gardens, farms and plantations. This is meant for successful harvests in lead up to the Galungan celebrations three weeks ahead. Galungan ceremonies largely require the items for various temple offerings.




Galungan Ceremony: 14 April 2021 & 10 November 2021
The Balinese celebrate the day of Galungan, which commemorates the triumph of Dharma over Adharma, or good against evil. Second in significance after the Nyepi or Saka New Year, this observance comes twice a Gregorian year, as the Balinese use a 210-day calendar system known as the Pawukon that is the basis for their daily rituals, temple anniversaries and holidays.




Kuningan Ceremony: 23 April 2021 & 20 November 2021
Kuningan ceremony is held ten days after the Galungan Festival, signifying the closing of the New Year holiday. On this day special offerings made of yellow rice and special dishes are offered; every family compound and temple looks amazing with ornaments. This is believed to be the ascendance day - when ancestral holy spirits and deities return to heaven.




Mekotekan Rituals: 20 November 2021. Munggu Village, Mengwi District, Badung
This age-old tradition coincides with the day of Kuningan and features the whole male villagers of Munggu joining in brandishing long stiff bamboo poles onto the streets. Over a thousand jovial participants and curious onlookers flock to the village streets, reenacting the triumphant battles of the Blambangan war. Each of the pole ends are combined in mid-air forming a dynamic pyramid where to friendly opponents climb up this mountain and face-off at the peak.




Pengrupukan, New Year's Eve of the Saka Calendar: 02 March 2022
On Saka New Year Eve, it is all blaring noise and merriment. Every Balinese household starts the evening with blessings at the family temple and continues with a ritual called the pengrupukan where each member participates in chasing away malevolent forces, known as bhuta kala, from their compounds hitting pots and pans or any other loud instruments along with a fiery bamboo torch. These spirits are later manifested as the ogoh-ogoh to be paraded in the streets. As the street parades ensue, bamboo cannons and occasional firecrackers fill the air with flames and smoke. The Nyepi Eve parade usually starts at around 19:00 local time.

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Nyepi Day of Silence and Seclusion, Saka New Year 1941: 03 March 2022
Nyepi Day in Bali is a New Year celebration unlike anywhere else on the planet. Bali's celebrates the Saka New Year as the Bali Day of Silence, an ultimately quietest day of the year, when all of the island's inhabitants abide by a set of local rules, which brings all routine activities to a complete halt. Roads all over Bali are void of any traffic and nobody steps outside of their home premises.



Ngembak Geni, Day after Nyepi: 04 March 2022
The silence of the Saka New Year celebration "breaks" as the morning does at 06:00 sharp. The day is a local holiday in Bali and families visit each other as it is a time for gatherings and short travels.




Omed-Omedan, 'festival of splashes and smooches: 04 March 2022. Sesetan Area, Denpasar – Bali.
Omed Omedan is one of Bali's most exciting events where thousands of unmarried youth come together for a mass kissing festival. For about 100 years, unmarried men and women aged between 17 to 30 have participated in this unique tradition which is held is held the day after the spiritual holiday of Nyepi. In addition to the mass kissing, the festivities are accompanied by the pouring of water on the participants as a symbolic act of blessing.

Omed Omedan typically starts by separating the youths into two groups: men and women. The two groups stand opposite each other. When the designated elder marks the start of the festival, the two groups will reach out to embrace and kiss each other. For foreigners, this might seem a little awkward, but the locals will gleefully cheer on the participants whilst pouring water over them.

Visitors are welcome to watch this fun festival, but it is not appropriate that foreigners take part.




Bali Spirit Festival: TBA. Bali Spirit, Jl. Hanoman, Ubud
The Bali Spirit Festival is fun festival that brings together yoga, music and dance into one fun event.
During the day, there are heaps of activities scheduled including yoga workshops, traditional Balinese performances, Bhakti Music, Kirtan, Capoeira, meditation, sound healing and ecstatic dance.

© http://www.balispiritfestival.com/



Purnama Kedasa: 17 March 2022, Major Temples Island-wide
This special full moon is considered highly significant amongst Balinese Hindus. Known as 'Purnama Kedasa' in the local tongue, the day coincides with many major temples celebrating in festive rituals, attended by thousands of devotees. The famous mother temple, Besakih, holds a special ceremony known as 'Betara Turun Kabeh' on this special day, inviting the gods and deified ancestors for their blessings. A 'melasti' or purification pilgrimage usually takes place on the preceding Sunday, with processions carrying heirlooms and temple objects to holy water sources.




Ubud Food Festival: TBA – April 2022
Ubud Food Festival as a celebration of diverse Indonesian cuisine and local produce, while also serving as a gathering of the island’s most prominent chefs through a variety of presentations, live cooking demonstrations and culinary tours. This year’s festival once again brings together a host of restaurateurs, food producers, professionals and celebrated figures in the Indonesian food and beverage industry.

The annual event is held over the three days, besides offering you the opportunity to discover the wealth and variety of Indonesian cuisine, the Ubud Food Festival also features special events such as organic and culinary markets that allow you to discover and purchase the freshest farm items from the island’s best producers. Side events also include live music concerts highlighting local bands, as well as yoga, film screenings and food photography workshops.

© http://www.ubudfoodfestival.com




Kartini Day: 21 April 2022
Kartini Day is celebrated on the 21st of April every year, and is also referred to as ‘Hari Ibu Kartini’ by the locals. Hailed as the country’s first feminist, Kartini is the symbol of women’s strength in a world that is fraught with gender inequality and the suppression of women’s rights. Kartini’s desire to see women freed from the shackles of repressive laws and beliefs made her a heroine. Her legacy lives on today, and this celebration is testament to her resilience.




Vesak Day: 16 May 2022
On the day of the celebrations, devout locals and foreigners who ascribe to Buddhist teachings will often gather at various temples at dawn. This is then followed by the raising of the Buddhist flag accompanied by the placing of offerings at the feet of Buddha statues.




Tumpek Kandang: 04 July 2021
Tumpek Kandang is a special Balinese day that dedicated to animals, livestock and pets. Offerings are made for successful farming and animal welfare. They're also aimed at the harmony of the environment and which contribute to human sustenance and happiness. The day is part of a series of other Tumpek days aimed at the blessings of different subjects. Tumpek Uduh is for plants. Tumpek Landep is for metal objects and tools. Tumpek Kuningan for ancestral spirits. Tumpek Wayang is for wayang shadow puppets and art performances. Tumpek Krulut is for traditional gamelan music instruments. Like Balinese temple anniversaries, Tumpek days occur in a 210-day cycle on the Pawukon calendar.




Idul Fitri (Lebaran): 02 May 2022
Idul Fitri marks the end of fasting in the holy month of Ramadan for Muslims across the world. The fasting which spans about 30 days, comes to an end following the sighting of the moon on the island. When the moon is sighted, Muslim religious leaders will make an announcement of the same so that all Muslims on the island break the fast at the same time.

After this announcement, mass prayer sessions are carried out at the mosques as well as in public spaces across the island. One of the most notable things that visitors will notice is the coming together of families for feasting, with the signature dish known as ‘ketupat’. Local Muslims will also visit each other in the spirit of togetherness.




Bali Arts Festival: TBA - July 2022
The Bali Arts Festival is locally known as 'Pesta Kesenian Bali’ is a cultural treat for lucky visitors who are in Bali until mid July. It is the perfect moment to witness Bali’s wealth of performing arts. You'll also catch a glimpse of various cultural highlights from other islands in Indonesia. It's one of the main highlights in Bali’s calendar of events. The annual celebration showcases various artworks and cultural achievements.

Hundreds of artists from Denpasar, Bali’s eight provinces, neighbouring islands, and even art troupes from abroad, participate and showcase their talents here.




Banyu Pinaruh: 29 August 2021. Multiple Beaches in Bali
The name Banyu Pinaruh is derived from two words: Banyuh, which translates to ‘holy waters’ and Pinaruh which means ‘knowledge’. A combination of the two words means that locals regard this as the celebration of the sacred waters of knowledge. This is derived from the fact that locals believe that Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, gave knowledge to the human race on this particular day.

As a cultural ritual that is part of the traditions in Bali, the event is characterised by gathering of the locals in the early morning at any of the following locations: the river banks, the shores of the lake or at the beach. Taking a bath at these locations is believed to rejuvenate the body and get rid of the mundane feeling that comes from day to day activities.




Pagerwesi: 01 September 2021
Pagerwesi commemorates the day upon which an ancient battle between good and evil was fought. The word 'Pagerwesi' means 'iron fence', and reflects the purpose of this important event: it is the day to strengthen one's fortifications against evil. The correlation between Pagerwesi and the Saraswati is that knowledge is so powerful that it must be protected from bad influences. Pagerwesi Day reminds people to be wise and more aware of the function and power of knowledge. During Pagerwesi, people make special offerings for the dead who have not yet been cremated. Observances are usually held at every house compound, and at temples.




Makepung Buffalo Races: TBA – Mid July to Mid November 2021. Location: Jembrana, Negara, West Bali
Makepung is the name of a major grand prix in Jembrana, West Bali, which features racing buffalo races. Hundreds of pairs of buffaloes are teamed up together with their jockeys. They ride the traditional wooden ploughs that are slightly modified for the competition and during the festivities various other art forms of the locality are performed as well, such as bull fashion shows and Jegog bamboo orchestras.

The racer buffaloes, or kerbau pepadu, compete in various open race circuits in assorted heats. These series of competitions are held around the district of Melaya. They lead up to the finals, known as the Jembrana Regents Cup and the Governors Cup.

The tradition has partly prevented the shift of land for farming use. It has also encouraged the people to improve the quality of animal husbandry, raising winning buffaloes for the yearly events.




Tumpek Landep: 11 – 12 September 2021
Tumpek Landep is a day in Bali dedicated to the blessings of metal items. It's meant towards their better use in daily life. These could range from heirloom kris daggers to various other metal objects such as modern machinery, automobiles and such. On this day you're in for an interesting sight in Bali. You'll see cars and motorcycles decorated with intricate stitched-leaf ornaments called sampian roaming the streets in Bali.

© https://www.baliguides.info



Saraswati: 28 August 2021
Once every 210 days (the Balinese Pawukon Calender), Bali will celebrate Saraswati, or, freely translated, "Knowledge Day".

Saraswati is the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music, arts, wisdom and nature. She is symbolized by an attractive woman with a white swan among water lilies. The swan symbolizes prudence, so that one's knowledge is able to distinguish between good and evil. The water lilies & lotus flowers are symbols of holiness.




Bali International Choir Festival: TBA July 2022
The Bandung Choral Society organizes this annual choir symposium and competition event. The next is slated for July this year in Bali. In its previous years, the choir festival featured over a hundred choirs, several conductors, and clinicians in a series of choir symposiums and competitions.

The racer buffaloes, or kerbau pepadu, compete in various open race circuits in assorted heats. These series of competitions are held around the district of Melaya. They lead up to the finals, known as the Jembrana Regents Cup and the Governors Cup.

The tradition has partly prevented the shift of land for farming use. It has also encouraged the people to improve the quality of animal husbandry, raising winning buffaloes for the yearly events.

©http://www.bandungchoral.com/




Bali Kites Festival(s): TBA - August 2021. Padang Galak Beach, Sanur
The Bali Kites Festival is a kiting event that takes place annually, between July and August (sometimes through October). It kicks off notably at the start of the windy season in Bali. The main festival takes place along the eastern coast of Padang Galak, just north of Sanur. This is usually held near the end of June and confirmed following favourable weather. Hundreds of competing kite troupes gather from all over the island to pilot their traditional kites. Oftentimes, alongside international teams with modern kites in various shapes and sizes.

The kite festival in Bali started off as a seasonal agrarian festival. It was held to thank the heavens for abundant crops and harvests.




Ubud Village Jazz Festival: 13 - 14 August 2021
The Ubud Village Jazz Festival is a huge community concert held over two days in Ubud, the cultural capital of Bali. The festival features various types of jazz music by international performers, and also runs workshops for budding artists. During these workshops, visitors can learn more about jazz music and hone your skills with jazz experts. Ubud Village Jazz Festival, an annual event, is made possible by the support of the local Ubud community.

© http://ubudvillagejazzfestival.com




Indonesian Independence Day: 17 August 2021
This marks Indonesia's 72nd year of independence. The day is celebrated on August 17, when red-and-white flags adorn the street sides and flag raising ceremonies take place at government offices and a major ceremony takes place in Jakarta, attended by the state head and officials. Households and communities throughout the archipelago also post flags and decorations at front of houses. Some communities also hold sack-run races and other revelries in the spirit of nationality.




Sanur Village Festival : TBA August 2021
Some of the highlights of the Sanur Village Festival include fashion shows, culinary displays, sports competitions, environmental conservation programs and yoga demonstrations. Head to the different culinary stands and sample delicious local cuisine prepared by Balinese experts.

Environmental conservation programs are also an important part of this festival and there are many activities held to further conservation efforts such as cleaning the beach, planting corals and planting exotic and endangered plant species.

You will also find photography exhibitions, a kite festival, golf tournament, fishing tournament and cycling tour. The family friendly event also attracts kids with a number of fun activities such as body painting, kite flying, beach games and a fun run for the whole family.

http://www.sanurvillagefestival.com/




Balinale International Film Festival: 16 – 19 September 2021
Bali International Film Festival, also known and registered as Balinale, is recognized internationally for the diversity of its programming consisting of Indonesian and international independent and award winning fiction, documentary, feature and short films. Balinale's theme in 2017 was, "connecting communities through the world of film." It's slated to present a program of films that project visions and dreams in a positive way, enabling greater exposure, tolerance and acceptance of countries and cultures. The main screenings of Balinale are at the Cinemaxx movie theatre, at the Lippo Mall Kuta.




Lovina Beach Festival: 05 April 2022
The Lovina Festival takes place around the village of Kalibukbuk Beach in north Bali and is usually held around September or October. The festival highlights include a handicraft exhibition and an afternoon opening ceremony filled with a traditional Balinese marching band called Baleganjur and a towering fruit and flower offering or gebogan parade. Performing arts include the Gong Kebyar and Ki Barak Panji Sakti dance that hails from the North Bali region.




Nusa Dua Fiesta: 22 October 2022
The Nusa Dua Fiesta is an event that effortlessly fuses music, culture, arts and sports to create an amazing experience for all visitors. You will find art exhibitions, cultural performances and sporting events held over an number of days down on the southern part of the island at Nusa Dua.

Held over a number of days, the fiesta opens with a ceremony along the Nusa Dua peninsula and is followed by musical performances, cultural dances as well as market stalls, food stalls and a parade in the evening with floats.

Live entertainment is a big part of the festival with local and international acts playing across all days of the festival. You will also find fashion shows and competitions including a ‘latte art’ competition and body painting artists.

©https://www.nusaduafiesta.co.id




Ubud Writers & Readers Festival: TBA November 2021
Ubud Writers & Readers Festival is an event held in the central Bali town of Ubud that celebrates all things about literature, reading, writing, film and culture.

The festival is the brainchild of Janet De Neefe, an Australian-born woman who envisioned a literary space where talented artists could express themselves.

© http://www.ubudwritersfestival.com




Bali International Triathlon: TBA – Fall 2021
The prestigious triathlon is back in its 10th year this year, but will feature a new course, starting and finishing in Sanur. The race is slated to once again feature an Olympic Distance Course with male and female divisions, a Sprint Distance Course and a 5k Fun Run.

Typically, race day for the Bali International Triathlon's main Olympic Distance course sees participants gearing up well before daybreak, as they gather for the ocean swim. This year, right after sunrise, they'll sprint into the waters and stroke the calm waves off the coast of Mertasari Beach for the first 1.5km swim. Back at shore, it's a quick change into cycling helmets and shoes for the 40km bike race along Sanur's length of the Ngurah Rai Bypass and into the Ida Bagus Mantra highway, before heading back to the beach transition area to change into running shoes for the 10km road race through Sanur's streets.




Tumpek Wayang: 07 August 2021
Tumpek Wayang is a special day dedicated towards traditional performing arts in Bali. Emphasis is particularly put on traditional Balinese shadow puppetry, known as wayang. Various offerings are made to the range of character puppets involved in this theatrical art. Tumpek Wayang is one part in a series of Tumpek days for blessing different subjects.




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