Tonight is full moon here in Bali, and of course full moon in Bali offers something more than ordinary days especially in Denpasar where full-moon fever reach its highest point compare to other areas in Bali; but what is the good thing to do on a full moon in Denpasar.

Well, for those who want to enjoy full moon in solitude, enjoying a moonrise from good old Sanur beach or from the restaurants along the beach is surely a great thing to do. Enjoying the reflection of the moonlight on the ocean with two or three anglers casting their net unaware of the beauty of the surrounding is what you can get in Sanur in addition to the rise of the moon from vast ocean.

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Purnama, or full moon in Bali is always a special day for ceremonies and festivities. Hundreds of temples all over the island celebrate their anniversary on a specific full moon each year. Since full moon is also considered as an auspicious day, hundreds of ceremonies are held in all corner of the island on this sacred day. When a holiday such as Galungan is happen together with the purnama, the scale of the festivity and ceremony of this holyday is doubled, with more offerings and decoration than a Galungan without purnama.

Balinese believe purnama is a propitious day when God descends to the earth and gives His blessing. Balinese make special offering to the God in this holyday, give alms, reciting religious hymn, or set a pilgrimage to a remote temple, but for teenagers, the Jagatnatha Temple in the heart of Denpasar is the only destination. Balinese also believe that purnama is the best time for making good deeds or doing religious activities since the reward of them will be multiplied by 100.

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Hindu-Balinese identity is enforced through pork meatballs and praying competitions.

Walking the streets of Denpasar, you will probably notice small food stalls and carts bearing red and white banners that read Bakso Krama Bali (BKB), meaning bakso (meatball soup) sold for and by Balinese. Previously, bakso was most commonly made from chicken and sold from carts by Javanese migrants. The new BKB often uses pork, thus violating halal (Islamic dietary) requirements, meaning not only that Muslims can’t eat BKB, but also that they can’t sell it. Non-Muslim Balinese therefore have a monopoly on the market.

BKB arose in an attempt to take back control over the Balinese economy from the perceived economic threat of Javanese transmigrants. Even non-BKB food stalls and carts will often paint Bakso Ajeg Bali (literally, Bakso Strengthening Bali) on their signs, or advertise that they use pork, in order to benefit from the rising popularity of BKB. BKB is a reflection of what could be interpreted as the rise of Balinese nationalist or Hindu fundamentalist sentiment in Bali.

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Kehen Temple, one of a few largest temples in Bali, is located at the south of Bangli in Cempaga village, about 43 km from Denpasar. It was built in the reign of Sri Bhatara Guru Adikunti Ketana in the 11^th century in a terraced mountain sanctuary that was the site of an earlier temple that dates back to the 9^th century. The word Kehen is derived from the word “Keren” means flame. Formerly, it was known as “Hyang Api” (God of Fire) temple. The people of Bangli believe that Kehen Temple is the largest and the most sacred temple of the region and regard it as the state temple of Bangli.

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