Festivals & Events

1. Galungan

   Balinese holiday for the victory of dharma over adharma

   Usage

   The dictionary says it celebrates the victory of dharma over adharma and falls once every 210 days of the Balinese year. Families set up a penjor before the gate the day before. The date changes every year.

   Grammar Note

   Galungan is the festival's proper name. The dictionary table lists it under kasar and andap, but a festival name is used as is.

2. Kuningan

   Holiday that follows Galungan

   Usage

   The dictionary places it on Saniscara Kliwon of Wuku Kuningan, when gods and ancestors are said to descend. Yellow rice (nasi kuning) is offered. The same word also means brass.

   Grammar Note

   Kuning means yellow, and nasi kuning is yellow rice. The festival name adds -an.

3. Nyepi

   Day of Silence, the Balinese Saka new year

   Usage

   The dictionary says it is the first day of the Saka year, a day of meditation when one should not go outside. Visitors are also asked to stay in, and the airport closes, so check the date in advance. It changes every year.

   Grammar Note

   Nyepi comes from sepi (silent); it means to make silence.

4. Ogoh-ogoh

   Giant papier-mache figures of evil spirits

   Usage

   The dictionary says these are giant statues of paper and bamboo representing evil spirits, carried in procession on the evening before Nyepi (ngerupuk). Some reach three or four metres.

   Grammar Note

   Ogoh-ogoh is a reduplicated word written with a hyphen.

5. Pagerwesi

   Important holiday celebrating dharma over adharma

   Usage

   The dictionary says it is an important holiday, especially in north Bali, on Wednesday (Buda) of the first Pawukon week Sinta, second only to Galungan and Kuningan. Pageh means fence and besi means iron: an iron fence against bad influences.

   Grammar Note

   Pagerwesi comes from pageh and besi.

6. Saraswati

   Day honouring the goddess of knowledge

   Usage

   The dictionary says the last day of the Pawukon cycle (Saniscara Watugunung) is devoted to the goddess of books and learning. It celebrates the descent of knowledge. Books may receive offerings that day.

   Grammar Note

   Saraswati is also the goddess's name.

7. Odalan

   Anniversary festival of a temple

   Usage

   The dictionary says it is a temple anniversary festival, once every 210 days if set by the Pawukon calendar or once a lunar year if set by the Saka calendar. The polite word is patoyan. Each temple has its own date.

   Grammar Note

   Odalan is a mider word, and patoyan is the polite form.

8. Penjor

   Decorated bamboo pole set up for festivals

   Usage

   The dictionary describes a decorated, arched bamboo pole set outside the house at major festivals; the arch stands for Gunung Agung, the pole for a river, and harvest produce is tied on. Every family puts one up the day before Galungan.

   Grammar Note

   Penjor is a mider word.

9. Tumpek

   Saturday ritual day when auspicious days coincide

   Usage

   The dictionary says the word covers days when auspicious days coincide, such as Tumpek Kandang (offerings to animals) and Tumpek Wayang (a blessing for shadow puppetry). They fall on Saturdays.

   Grammar Note

   A second word after tumpek names the type.

10. Ngaben

    Cremation ceremony

    Usage

    The dictionary defines it as conducting a cremation, with types such as ngaben ngagalung, a mass cremation sponsored by the village. It is a family ceremony, so ask permission and watch quietly.

    Grammar Note

    Ngaben is the nasalised form of aben.

11. Rahajeng rahina Galungan

    Happy Galungan

    Usage

    Rahajeng is the word of blessing and greeting. This wish is built from dictionary words and is not attested as a set phrase.

    Grammar Note

    Rahina is the alus mider word for day (andap is dina).

12. Galungan rahina napi?

    When is Galungan?

    Usage

    To ask the date of a festival. Dates follow the Balinese calendar and change each year. The sentence is built from verified words.

    Grammar Note

    Rahina napi means which day; swap in another festival name.

13. Titiang meled ningalin ogoh-ogoh

    I would like to see the ogoh-ogoh

    Usage

    To say you want to watch the parade. The ngerupuk night is crowded, so follow local guidance. The sentence is built from verified words.

    Grammar Note

    The pattern meled plus a verb is the same as other wish sentences.

14. Ogoh-ogoh ring dija?

    Where are the ogoh-ogoh?

    Usage

    To ask where a parade or display is. The sentence is built from verified words.

    Grammar Note

    Ring dija means where.

15. Dados titiang ningalin ngaben?

    May I watch the cremation ceremony?

    Usage

    A polite request for permission. Ask the family or villagers, and mind dress and behaviour. The sentence is built from verified words.

    Grammar Note

    Dados asks permission, as on the temple cards.

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