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Bali Events & Festivals

Festivals and events are important features in the social landscape of Bali, and also permanent fixtures in the lives of the Balinese. These festivals and events are determined by the calendars of the Balinese from long ago.

The major events in the life of a Balinese is believed to occur on fixed dates, which go according to the Balinese Calendar. Unlike temple festivals, these major events take place nearly every six months or every 210 days!

The Balinese believe in annual cycles and every six months of a Balinese's life is a celebration of holidays and life-cycle ceremonies. Since his conception in his mother's womb, every Balinese passes through certain stages, and this carries on up until marriage. These are the events celebrated to mark the passage of a Balinese as he progresses in his life. But the ritual of utmost importance to the Balineses is the ritual of the funeral rites and cremation.

It is, therefore, extremely obvious that festivals and events are an integral part of Balinese life and a huge part of the mysticism and allure that sets Bali apart from any other land. To help preserve and maintain every aspect of this rich culture, the Provincial Government of Bali holds numerous Annual Festivals. 

The Bali festivals and life-cycle ceremonies stop for a while, until a Balinese boy or girl reaches adolescence...

In this period of life the important and painful tooth-filling ceremony (Mapandes) takes place, preferable before marriage.

By filing away the sharp points of the canine teeth the Balinese believe that human behavior such as lust, greed, anger, drunkenness, jealousy etc. is removed from that specific person.

Read more...

The Mupuk Pedagingan and Pedudusan Agung ceremony is meant to revitalize the temple, making it fit to receive the Supreme God, Ida Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa, in his personification as the Destroyer who destroys all things in order to recreate them again.

The significance of this special ceremony is to harmonize the three worlds of Balinese Hindu belief. These worlds are:

1. Bhur – Level of the lower beings
2. Bwah – Level of the humans
3. Swah – Level of the Gods

Read more...

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