Get to know The Galungan Day, The Big Day of Hindus in Bali

TRIBUNBATAM.id, BALI - Happy Galungan Day. 

Galungan Day is one of the big days for Hindus in Bali, Indonesia. 

Galungan Day is celebrated by Hindus every 6 months of the Balinese calendar or every 210 days that fall on the Buddhist day of Kliwon Dungulan or also known as Wednesday Kliwon Wuku Dungulan. 

Galungan Day this year coincides with November 10th. 

What is Galungan Day?

Galungan Day is the day when Dharma (truth) wins against Adharma (evil). Galungan Day is also the day when Hindus commemorate the creation of the universe and all its contents. 

Galungan is celebrated as an expression of gratitude.

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On this day Hindus will give and make offerings to Sang Hyang Widhi and Dewa Bhatara. 

The penjor that is installed on the side of the road in every house is a rule before Bhatara Mahadewa. 

This is the reason why Galungan is synonymous with penjor. 

Galungan's meaning

Quoting the official website of the government of Buleleng, Bali, Galungan is taken from Old Javanese which means to fight.

This word is also called "dungulan" which means to win.

In Java, Galungan is called Wuku Galungan while in Bali it is known as Wuku Dungulan.

Even though they are spelled differently, they both have the same meaning.

The essence of the Galungan celebration is to unite spiritual strength in order to gain a clear mind and stance.

Spiritual union and a clear mind is a form of dharma within. Meanwhile, all the confusion of the mind is a form of adharma.

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When was Galungan celebrated for the first time?

No one knows for sure when Galungan was celebrated for the first time.

However, it is written in the Lontar Purana Bali Dwipa that Galungan Day was first celebrated on the full moon day of Kapat (Budha Kliwon Dungulan) in 882 AD or Saka year 804.

Lontar can be called a sacred library / guidebook and is kept by Hindus.

Galungan Day is celebrated with a series of ceremonies ending on Kuningan Day.

Galungan and Kuningan are celebrated twice in one calendar year.

The calculation for the celebration of these two big days is based on the Balinese calendar.

Galungan every Wednesday during Dungulan wuku. While Kuningan every Saturday at Wuku Kuningan.

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