Kuningan Day
Balinese Hindu’s will celebrate yet another religious day known as Kuningan on Saturday February 2, 2008. This ceremonial occasion falls exactly 10 days after the Galungan rituals and is a time to commemorate ancestral spirits as they return to heaven after dwelling on earth for an extended period.
Worshippers express their gratitude through prayer and offerings to the trinity of Gods for the ultimate gift of life. At Kuningan the arched bamboo poles referred to as as penjor, which are erected in front of each Balinese home compound during the religious festivities, are redecorated. White cloth is replaced with yellow cloth at the base of the penjor’s temporary shrine as an indication of prosperity. All ceremonial tokens of appreciation must be performed before 12 noon to farewell the spirits as they depart the physical world and disappear into the unseen.
The day following Kuningan is noted for an elaborate festival that takes place at Sakenan Temple on Serangan Island. In previous years, dedicated worshippers used to make annual pilgrimages to this island by boat dressed in their ceremonial finery and carry carefully balanced offerings of fruit and flowers on their laps to avoid splashes of sea water. However, an access bridge was built to connect Serangan Island to Bali and the journey is now just a short distance by car or motorbike.
The duration of the Galungan and Kuningan religious holiday symbolically marks the triumph to good over evil. Balinese Hindu’s take this opportunity to self-reflect and attempt to eliminate any negative character traits that may deter them from achieving a successful passage through life. The people of Bali use this celebration to return to their original villages and reunite with family and friends. Prayers are expressed to safeguard this spiritual island of Bali that over the years international travellers’ have come to love and appreciate for its diverse beauty and rich culture.
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