The best way to explain the climate and weather in Bali in a year period is based on traditional Caka Calendar. Each month (sasih) in this calendar has its own climate and weather characteristic. Balinese have used these climate and weather characteristics to determine the best time for cultivating the land or to perform a religious ceremony.

A year in the traditional Caka calendar consist of twelve months. Here are the months arranged in succession as follows Kasa, Karo, Katiga, Kapat, Kalima, Kenem, Kapitu, Kaulu, Kasanga, Kadasa, Jiyestha and Asada. The prefix of ka- in the first tenth months above refers to ordinal numbers. The first month (kasa) of the traditional Caka calendar corresponds to July. But they are not exactly the same since the traditional Caka calendar is a lunar calendar while the Gregorian is a solar one.

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If you are heading to Bali in search of a land of relaxation where watches, calendars and appointment books are unheard of, you’ll be in for a surprise. While the Balinese are indeed faithful followers of the relaxed island tempo known as “jam karet” or “rubber time,” they are also among the most time conscious people in the world. And no, we don’t mean just the scores of sellers of fake Rolex and Cartier watches who swarm the streets of Kuta. We mean the many Balinese who organize their lives around the traditional Balinese calendar.

In Bali, the calendar determines good days and bad days for virtually every human activity, and many actions are only undertaken after consultation with a ritual calendar specialist or taking a glance at the comprehensive traditional calendar virtually every Balinese family has hanging on their wall. There are auspicious days for planting rice, for holding ceremonies, and for cutting down trees. There are favorable days for digging wells, building fish ponds or house foundations or learning to dance. There are times that are opportune for teaching your buffalo to plow, weaving a fishing net, or getting married. And in traditional Balinese belief, there is a direct relationship between the day of one’s birth and one’s character and potential.

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