The Galungan Spiritual Festival in Bali
In Honour of Ancestral Spirits
Galungan Spiritual Festival | Image Credit : Jorge Láscar from Melbourne, Australia, Penjors (17056621792), CC BY 2.0
An important cultural event in Bali, the Galungan Spiritual Festival honours ancestral spirits, while also celebrating good (Dharma) overcoming evil (Adharma). The 2020 festival is scheduled to be held from 19th to 22nd February at temples and other sites across the island; travellers staying at resorts or service apartments Bali has to offer including properties such as Citadines Kuta Beach Bali will have the chance to observe some of the local traditions.
Amongst the customs of the Galungan Spiritual Festival in Bali is the setting up of “penjor” which are decorated bamboo poles that are quite tall; these are set up in the streets by families and temples and offerings are hung on them as a way of welcoming the ancestral spirits. On the other hand, the offerings of yellow rice at the end of the festival signify the departure of these spirits and the conclusion of Galungan.