For Balinese, Galungan is always full of joy. Galungan is celebrated by Balinese as the victory of virtue (DHARMA) upon evil (ADHARMA) when the entire island brightened with festivities and ceremony. On the Galungan day, most Balinese will return to their own ancestral home at some stage during the day, even if they work in another part of the island. Balinese believe that on this day family ancestors come back to rest in respective family temple. Failed to attend the ceremony in his / her family temple will be a great shame for Balinese. As well as the family temple, visits are made to the village temple with offerings as well.

Based on Purana Bali Dwipa (Old History of Bali Island) Scripture, the first Galungan ceremony was celebrated in 882 AD, the celebration was held regularly (every 210 days) for three centuries. In 1181 AD the Galungan ceremony was banned with no apparent reason. The banned was lifted in 1204 AD in the reign of King Jayakasunu. In the period when Galungan was banned, Bali was stormed by plagues and disasters. King Jayakasunu lifted the ban and restored the former prosperity of Bali.

The celebration of Galungan can be divided into three types: Galungan (Ordinary Galungan), Galungan Nadi (Grand Galungan), and Galungan Nara Mangsa (Forbidden Galungan).

The ordinary Galungan is celebrated every 210 days on Wednesday Kliwon Dungulan (based on Pawukon cycle calendar). The Galungan Nadi (Grand Galungan) is celebrated when Galungan happen together with full moon. The Galungan Nadi (Grand Galungan) ceremony is much bigger than ordinary Galungan in term offering and decorations. The Galungan Nadi (Grand Galungan) occurs every ten years. Galungan Nara Mangsa (Forbidden Galungan) occurs when Galungan happen together with new moon. The term Nara Mangsa equivalent with “man eaters” in English, and “Galungan Nara Mangsa” can be translated roughly into “the victory of evil”. There is no celebration in Galungan Nara Mangsa (Forbidden Galungan), no penjor (tall-artistically-decorated-bamboo-poles) and of course, no offering.

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