Today, 27/02/08 Balinese celebrated the end of Galungan period, the end of a period that full of holidays and festivity, which is well known as Pegatwakan (“pegatwakan” is derived from the word “pegat” means “cut off” and the word “wak” means “words” or “promise”). This holiday is celebrated 35 days after Galungan holiday and occurs once every 210 days.

Though this holiday is important and the amount of offering that is presented to the God is quite equal with Galungan Holiday (Balinese Christmas), it is celebrated with a level of festivity or pomposity far below the Galungan. It seems that only the housewives celebrate this holiday. Early in the morning they come to the temple with trays of offerings while their husband go to work as usual.

On this day all traces of Galungan will be removed. The penjors (decorated bamboo poles) that adorned the street all over the south, east and west Bali will be removed and burned with a proper ritual.

Penjor (decorated bamboo poles). flickr.com/photos/kaiconragan/

Pegatwakan also marks the beginning of new series of propitious days for holding a ceremony. It is believed by Balinese there is no auspicious day occurs in the period after the Galungan holiday up to Pegatwakan. In some areas in Bali this period is called “masalah”, (probably derived from the word “masa” means “time” and “salah” means “wrong”). Balinese usually start to plan and hold their ceremonies (except temple anniversary and birthday that the dates are fixed) after the Pegatwakan.

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