In 2027, Galungan falls on 13 January and 11 August, and Kuningan on 23 January and 21 August.
What do Balinese people celebrate during Galungan?
In Bali, where culture and spirituality run through every aspect of life, Galungan is considered one of the most important religious events, alongside the Balinese New Year, Nyepi.
The festival takes place every 210 days according to the Balinese Pawukon calendar (a uniquely Balinese Hindu calendar made up of 210 days and used for religious and cultural ceremonies). It lasts ten days and ends on Kuningan.
Galungan symbolises the victory of good (dharma) over evil (adharma), the bond between generations and reverence for ancestral spirits. It is believed that on this day the dead return to our world to visit their families. To welcome them, Balinese people make offerings and decorate their homes.
Throughout all 10 days, Balinese Hindus take part in shared prayers, rituals and community events, strengthening their spiritual connection and family ties. Day 10, Kuningan, is the final day of the festivities.
It marks the departure of the ancestral spirits, who, having visited their families, return to the heavens. On this day, Balinese Hindus prepare special offerings with yellow rice (nasi kuning), which symbolises gratitude, purity and prosperity.
During Galungan, the atmosphere on the island is both peaceful and festive, with prayers and ceremonies taking place everywhere. If you are in Bali at this time of year, you can feel the festival’s deep spiritual meaning and enjoy the richness of the island’s culture.
Origins and philosophy of the festival
The origins of Galungan go back to ancient times. According to Balinese mythology, the world once fell into chaos under the rule of the demon king Mayadenawa, who forbade people to perform religious rites and worship the gods.
Mayadenawa was a powerful and cruel ruler. On top of that, he could transform himself into anything he wished and make himself invisible. By imposing his godless rule on the island, destroying temples and punishing believers, Mayadenawa upset the balance.
The rivers that fed the land dried up, and hordes of rodents descended on the rice fields, bringing famine. The priests then begged Indra (the king of the gods and ruler of the heavenly realm in Hinduism) to free the island from its suffering.
Indra slipped into the camp of Mayadenawa’s sleeping army and created a spring of poisoned water. He tried not to make a sound and moved on tiptoe. Today the place where this happened is called Tampaksiring ("tampak" - foot ; "siring" - edge).
One of the most sacred places in Balinese Hinduism, the Tirta Empul spring, where Balinese people still wash away their sins today, is linked to the most dramatic battle of this conflict. In the morning, after the short-sighted army had been poisoned en masse, Indra created a sacred healing spring (Tirta Empul) on this spot.
Indra caught up with the villain, who had turned himself into stone, struck him with an arrow and destroyed him. According to legend, Galungan is celebrated on the anniversary of this very day. The blood that flowed from the rock formed a river.
Cursed by Indra, it was named Pekerisan and from then on struck fear into the hearts of the Balinese, although its waters later came to be used to irrigate the fields. According to tradition, rice grown with this water may be planted and watered but not eaten. Only after the curse was lifted was this taboo partly relaxed.
Since then, this day has symbolised the triumph of dharma, moral and spiritual truth, over the destructive influence of evil. But Galungan is more than a historical allegory. Balinese people believe that during these 10 days the spirits of their ancestors come down to earth to visit their families. People prepare for their arrival by decorating their homes, cleaning temples, praying and making generous offerings.
When is Galungan celebrated?
Galungan is celebrated every 210 days according to the Balinese Pawukon calendar. It always falls on a Wednesday.
The festival lasts 10 days and ends on Kuningan, when the ancestral spirits return to their spiritual world.
Ngelawang Barong is one of the main sights you can see in the days between Galungan and Kuningan. It is a traditional performance by groups of children and teenagers. They parade through the streets with a barong bangkung, a figure of a mythical pig-like creature, while playing traditional musical instruments.
The Ngelawang procession moves from house to house and through villages, and the ritual is believed to help drive away evil spirits and purify the surroundings. In return, residents give the participants small cash donations.
Even if you are a tourist and happen to come across a Ngelawang procession, you can show your respect by donating a little small change. It will be received with gratitude and a smile.
You can wish a Balinese person a happy holiday with the phrase “Selamat Hari Raya Galungan” (“Happy Galungan”). It shows your respect for the local culture and is sure to make the other person smile.
How is Galungan celebrated?
Preparations
Festive preparations begin several days before the main day:
- Penyekeban (3 days before) is a day of self-restraint: Balinese people hold themselves back and avoid doing anything their religion forbids.
- Penampahan (the day before Galungan): men slaughter pigs and prepare the meat, women prepare offerings, and penjor appear in the streets. These are curved bamboo poles decorated with coconut leaves, rice, fruit and flowers. They symbolise gratitude to the gods for the harvest, protection and prosperity.
Galungan Day
In the morning, Balinese people put on traditional dress: a kain (sarong) and a selendang (sash), with women wearing lace kebaya. Families head to the temples to pray, purify themselves and give thanks. Offerings are placed in family shrines, at house gates, in temple complexes and by the penjor. It is a time when homes become shrines and the streets become a vivid symbol of faith and cultural pride.
The days after Galungan
The celebrations don’t end there. Over the following days, families keep visiting relatives and taking part in temple ceremonies. The cycle of celebrations ends on the tenth day, Kuningan, when the ancestral spirits return to the heavens.
Food and offerings
If you haven’t yet tried authentic Balinese food, this is a great time to do it. The festive meal is the high point of Galungan. During the holidays, Balinese families prepare special traditional dishes such as lawar (a dish of finely chopped meat, grated coconut and spices), babi guling (the famous Balinese spit-roasted suckling pig, served at celebratory meals), ketupat (rice cooked in woven palm leaves) and jajan (traditional sweets made from sticky rice and coconut, symbolising joy and well-being).
Offerings (banten) may consist of fruit, rice, flower petals, incense and symbolic figures made from palm leaves.
Dos and don’ts during Galungan
Important things to do:
- Visit the family temple and pray.
- Make offerings to the ancestral spirits.
- Take part in family and community ceremonies.
- Show respect to all, living and dead.
Things to avoid:
- Ignoring rituals and family rites.
- Violating religious purity (for example, by drinking alcohol or swearing).
- Showing disrespect to temples, penjor or offerings (for example, by stepping on them).
- Women may not enter temples while menstruating.
A symbol of family unity
Galungan is a time to return to one’s roots. Many Balinese people who live away from the island make a point of coming home to spend this day with their families. Shared prayers, preparing offerings together and elders’ stories about the ancestors make Galungan a time of spiritual unity between generations.
If you are in Bali at this time, it’s a great opportunity to see Balinese traditions with your own eyes. While many shops and offices may be closed (including government offices, markets and local stalls), the temples, by contrast, become the centre of activity. For photographers, it is a truly mesmerising sight.
Tips for tourists
- Respect local traditions: wear clothing that covers you, especially when entering a temple.
- Don’t touch offerings or decorations.
- If possible, watch a ceremony with a guide, who can help you understand the deep symbolism of what is happening.
- On Galungan Day the island does not shut down as it does during Nyepi, but the pace of life slows considerably. Tourist venues such as beach clubs, hotels and restaurants usually stay open. The airport also remains open. But don’t plan any non-tourism errands for this day. All government offices and most privately owned shops will be closed.
- The main thing tourists have to deal with is heavier traffic. Areas near major temples can see serious traffic jams, especially in the morning and evening when ceremonies take place. Keep this in mind when planning your day during the Galungan celebrations.
Conclusion
Galungan is more than just a festival. It embodies the Balinese philosophy of life, in which spirituality, family and nature form a single whole. It is a time when past, present and future come together in a dance of reverence, remembrance and gratitude. To visit Bali during Galungan is to touch the very soul of the island.
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