The dark purple, spherical-shaped fruit, which looks like a big, dark cherry is well known in Bali as Kaliasem, and Gowok in Indonesian. There is no English equivalent for this fruit. It comes in stalk just like cherry and very sweet. You do not need to peel this fruit when you eat it but mind, you can not eat the seed, which is large and shaped like lima bean. This fruit has white flesh with reddish tinge and usually ripe in November.

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If you are happen to visit Bali this month and you love to eat durian then you will have a great chance to experience the durian season of Bali. The durian season this year come a bit early and produce less durian than last year season but if you are interested in hunting durian down to its tree you will have a chance to taste the fresh durian right from its tree with cheaper price and of course a trip to inland Bali.

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Where is the forest of durian in Bali? If you have stamina for more than two hours drive, then Bangkiang Sidem and Ambengan village and their surrounding area in Buleleng regency near Buyan Lake are the places where you will find plenty of durian since these areas is the center of durian plantation in North Bali. In these areas, you can find durians stalls line up on both side of the main street that runs across the villages. The stall is usually managed by the owner of the durian trees.

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Today, Redite Paing Dungulan, is the day of Panyekeban Galungan, According to Gregorian calendar falls on January 20, 2008. Here is previous article’s featuring that event:

Galungan, a Balinese celebration to commemorate the victory of Dharma (virtue) over Adharma (evil) will be celebrated on November 29^th. But there is always a battle precede the celebration of victory. The peak of battle between Dharma against Adharma begin three days before Galungan, on Sunday Paing wuku Dunggulan (based on traditional Pawukon cycle calendar). This day is called Penyekeban by Balinese. The word “penyekeban” derived from the word “sekeb” which means “to cover up,” this word signifies the nature of enclosure or restraint. Balinese believe that on this day, the avant garde of evil, Kala-tiganing Galungan (three personifications of negative force which are Bhuta Galungan, Bhuta Dunggulan and Bhuta Amangkurat) come to the world.

As mentioned by the Holy Scripture, they are the symbol of Sad Ripu (six internal enemies, they are: kama (lust), loba (greed), krodha (anger), mada (drunkeness), moha (confusion). In this case the battle is not a physical battle but a battle against our own negative qualities. Sundarigama a sacred Balinese scripture describes this day as “den prayitna anjekung jnana nirmala, lamakane den kasurupan” which means “the day for self restrain in order not to be influenced by the evil force”. Penyekeban day for Balinese is always a day for cultivating self restraint (as the name of this day suggest) since it is an essential weapon for fighting the Adharma.

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Today, 12/29/07, Balinese celebrate the birthday of the trees. This holiday is called Tumpek Wariga or Tumpek Pengarah. There a lot some articles in this blog which describe how Balinese express their gratitude to the trees through the celebration of Tumpek Uduh and how this holiday serves as a remainder of the importance of trees for Balinese’s life and also serves as a message for the Balinese to preserve the tree. So this time I will put emphasis on unique mepengarah ritual which is practiced on the celebration of this ceremony.

Mepengarah ritual is a unique ritual in which Balinese give an instruction to the trees (menpengarah means giving an instruction). The ritual is conducted right after the ceremony to honor the god of the trees is finished. Balinese will tap the tree three times to wake it up and give the instruction to it. It runs as follow: Kaki-kaki titiang pengarah, malih selae rahina Galunganne, mabuah nyen apang nged. Nged, nged, nged”; the free translation of this instruction runs as follow “Grandpa-grandpa, I have an instruction, it is 25 days left for Galungan day, produce a lot of fruit, a lot of fruit, a lot of fruit.” In this ritual Balinese inform the trees that Galungan (Christmas a la Balinese) holiday will soon arrive and to celebrate the Galungan holiday many fruits and other and rice will be needed to make offerings which are going to be presented to the God and ancestors in this holiday and Balinese ask the trees and other plants to produce plenty of fruits and rice to fulfill the demand on this resources.

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The Durian season is now on its peak in Bali, this fruit is now everywhere in Bali; you can find it in every supermarket, roadside stall, or even on a pick up that sells durian on every roadside in Bali. You can smell its strong odor even before you see one.

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Durian, king of fruit is a controversial fruit, with strong pungent odor that makes this fruit banned in some hotels and restaurants, though it has a delicious taste that makes you crave for more.

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Gebogan is one of many different kinds of beautiful offerings Balinese women traditionally make. It contains, flowers, fruits, rice, cone-shaped cakes and a roasted chicken. What is included in Gebogan will vary from one part of Bali to another based on local tradition…but the offering is always a gorgeous sight to behold.

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