Calendar
of Events
|  The
Bali Calendar
As WUKU has 7 days
fixed, so 6 months in Balinese
calender means 210 days and one year means 420
days(instead of 365 days in roman calender). Most
important ceremonies are held in Bali every 30
Wuku or 210 days except NYEPI which is due every
year(420 days).
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Sunday |
Redite |
01.
Shinta |
09.
Juluwangi |
17.
Kelurut |
25.
Bala |
| Monday |
Soma |
02.
Landep |
10.
Sungsang |
18.
Merakih |
26.
Ugu |
| Tuesday |
Anggara |
03. Ukir |
11. Dungulan |
19. Tambir |
27. Wayang |
| Wednesday |
Budha |
04.
Kulantir |
12.
Kuningan |
20.
Medangkungan |
28.
Kelawu |
| Thursday |
Respati |
05. Taolu |
13. Lag Kir |
21. Matal |
29. Dukut |
| Friday |
Sukra |
06.
Gumbreg |
14.
Medangsia |
22.
Uye |
30.
Watugunung |
| Saturday |
Saniscara |
07. Wariga |
15. Pujut |
23. Menail |
Total: 30 Wuku |
| |
|
08.
Warigadean |
16.
Pahang |
24.
Prangbakat |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Months
of the Year
|
|
|
|
| Months
of the Year - Called Sasih which means
seasons the seasons are: |
|
January |
Kapitu |
July |
Kasa |
February |
Kahulu |
August |
Karo |
|
March |
Kasanga |
September |
Katiga |
April |
Kadasa |
October |
Kapat |
|
May |
Jhista |
November |
Kalima |
June |
Sadha |
December |
Kaaenem |
|
|
|
|
|
New
Year, January 1st: The
first of January is a national holiday, Indonesians
usually celebrate New Year's Eve in various forms
and festivities. It is not a traditional celebration.
Idul
Fitri:
This celebration is based upon the lunar calendar,
therefore it does not always fall on the same date
or month of the solar calendar. The celebration
marks the conclusion of a one-month fasting period
which is religiously observed by all Moslems. The
celebration follows general prayers at the Mosque
after which people visit each other to pay respects
and ask their elders and friends for forgiveness.
Special foods are prepared for the occasion and
eaten in a communal meal. Indonesians celebrate
Eidil Fitri for two days as a national holidays.
Proclamation
of Independence, August 17th: Similar to the July 4th celebrations in the United
States. Each year, august the 17th is celebrated
nationwide. The highlight of the celebration is
a flag-raising ceremony held at the State Palace,
Jakarta. On August 16, the President delivers a
State Address to the nation giving the Government's
account before the Parliament with regard to domestic
as well as foreign policies. Various activities
undertaken during the celebrations, cover the fields
of: sports, boy scout and girl guide activities,
scientific and literary competitions, elections
of exemplary teachers, students, social workers,
doctors and so forth. Those who succeed in being
selected as exemplary persons are given an audience
with the President in a celebration held at the
Palace. The Proclamation of Independence Day is
also commemorated and celebrated by Indonesian Embassies,
Consulate Generals and abroad together with members
of the Indonesian community.
Christmas: Christmas is celebrated nationwide, particularly
by those who profess the Christian faith. Celebrations
during Christmas day and the day after, besides
the universal way, have a somewhat regional flavor
throughout the various cultures in Indonesia. |
| |
|
OTHER
MAJOR RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS:
Major celebrations with respect to other religions
are commemorated by those who follow the religions
concerned are proclaimed as National Holidays
by the Government.
MOSLEM
RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS
Idul Adha: Pilgrimage holiday
The Moslem Day of sacrifices, commemorated
with mass prayers at mosque and in town square.
Goats and cattle are slaughtered and the meat
given to the poor and needy.
Muharram 1st: Islamic New Year
Isra' and Mi'raj of Prophet Mohammad:
ascension day
Maulud Nabi: Birthday
of Prophet Mohammad.
In Yogyakarta, celebrations to commemorate of
the birthday of the Prophet Mohammad, about one
week before the actual day, begin with traditional
ceremonies, carnivals and festival (Sekaten).
The people of Yogyakarta and surroundings generally
believe that those participating in the ceremonies
commemorating the birth of the Prophet will be
blessed with a good life and youthfulness.
On the first day, starting from 08:00 p.m., two
melodiously tuned gamelan sets: Kyai Nogowilogi
and Kyai Guntur Madu are played simultaneously
in the Sultan's Palace (Keraton) Ponconiti pavilion.
At intervals a sermon is given and verses of the
Holy Qur'an script are recited.
At midnight, guards of the Keraton escort the
two gamelan sets carried in procession from the
Ponconiti pavilion to the Masjid Agung or Grand
Mosque. At the Masjid Agung yard, Kyai Nogowilogo
is put in the north Pagongan and the Kyai Guntur
Madu in the south. The two gamelan sets are played
simultaneously until the end of the Sekaten festivities
is declared at exactly 00:00 (midnight), right
after the two gamelan sets are carried back into
the Kraton Yogyakarta.
On the day of the birthday of Prophet Mohammad,
a parade of the Keraton guards and procession
of the Gunungan start from 8:00 a.m. at the Northern
Square.
CHRISTIAN
RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS
Good Friday
Ascension day of Jesus Christ BUDDHIST
HOLIDAYS
Waisak: Buddha's birthday and death
In Yogyakarta, the religious procession starts
from the Mendut Temple located about 35 km northwest
of Yogyakarta, to the Borobudur temple.
Preceded by the holy fire, the Buddha statue and
a Miniature stupa are carried in a procession,
followed by the Bikhsus, clad in their yellow
robes and members of the Buddhist community bringing
with them candles and bundles of flowers. The
moment the moon is at it fullest, the principal
Holy Waicak ceremony starts, comprising the commemoration
of the birth of Prince Sidharta, the moment he
reached Buddha-hood when meditating in the Uruvela
forest under the Bodhi tree and the moment of
his death and ascension to the Nirvana. The Waicak
ceremony in Yogyakarta is held at the Marangjati
Vihara.
HINDU
RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS
Nyepi: Saka New Year
The Hindu Dharma New Year of the solar/lunar (Caka)
calendar is celebrated only in the island of Bali.
This holiday falls on the Spring equinox and is
observed as a day of complete stillness. No fire
may be lit, no transport taken, no work done.
No one should be seen on the roads. One day before
Nyepi, the last day of the old year, purification
sacrifices and offerings are placed at crossroads
and in the centers of the villages and towns all
over Bali. Priests chant mantras to exorcise the
demons (buta and kala) of the old year.
In the evening the people of Bali bang gongs and
cymbals in all the corners of the family compound
and parade through the streets with torches to
make sure that all the lingering evil spirits
are aroused. In Denpasar (capital city of Bali),
thousands of boys gather at streets. The next
day, the day of Nyepi, it is silent everywhere.
Other
national days commemorated include:
Pancasila Sanctity Day, October 1st
Armed Forces Day, October 5th
Youth Pledge Day, October 28th
Hero's Day, November 10th
Mother's Day, December 22nd
National Education Day, May 2nd
National Awakening Day, May 20th
National Children's Day, July 23rd
National Sports Day, September 8th |
|
BALI
FESTIVAS AND EVENTS
Bali has many
kinds of events and ceremony, so there will be
many chances for tourists to witness this occasions.
Just keep an eye on some posters and advertisements
that inform about the upcoming events. Most of
free tourism magazines and newspapers are available
in hotels, shops, travel agents, or even you can
find them on the street.
RELIGIOUS
FESTIVALS
Odalan:
This festival is held as an anniversary celebration
for a temple's founding. Some festivals last a
couple of days, while others can last for up to
a week. The temple will be decorated with flowers,
palm leaves, flags and bamboo towers. Most of
them includes noisy parades, food offerings and
prayers that will add religious fervor to the
festive atmosphere. And to make this occasion
more complete, generally there will be dancing,
food stalls and other events such as cock-fighting.
Melasti:
This festival is known as a purification festival
that is held one day before Nyepi. On this time,
villagers will dress with their best clothes and
make their way to the sea or holy springs carrying
umbrellas, offerings of flowers and fruit, and
sacred statues. It is symbolize that all of these
activities are carried out amid the din of gamelan
and drums, and a great deal of shouting, as on
the following day, Nyepi, all must be silent.
As an additional information, most of the celebrations
are held at Tampaksiring temple.
Eka
Dasa Rudra:
This festival is believed as the restoration between
good and evil balance, and become the most important
ceremony for Balinese people. Acctually this ceremony
is originally held every hundred years, but now
it is being revised to be hold more frequently.
Non-religious
festivals.
Negara bull races:
This is the most exciting event in Negara and
is know as "Mekepung" in Balinese. It
is usually be held between July and October. The
course is a 2-kilometer stretch of road, and the
teams are judged for speed and style. Bulls are
carefully selected for strength and color, looked
after and pampered, and never used for ploughing
the fields.
|
|
|
|
