Kajeng Keliwon - a day of purification and visits by evil spirits

Kajeng Keliwon day is good for prayers; many temple anniversaries are celebrated on this day. However, Balinese people believe that one should be cautious on this day because evil spirits may linger nearby.

Special offerings are made in families to establish protection from spirits. Kajeng Keliwon is favorable for making offerings to objects possessing supernatural power, such as dance masks or figures from the traditional wayang kulit theater.

This day is observed every 15 days, which is quite unusual for us, Europeans. How did this unusual schedule come about?

The most significant holidays in the Balinese calendar, known as "Pawukon," occur when important days of one type of week coincide with important days of another type of week.

Let's remember once again the concept of 'Friday the thirteenth' together. The same principle applies here, but of course, without the ominous connotation of our particular Friday.

By the way, our 'Friday the thirteenth' is imperfect. Due to the varying number of days in months, it repeats without the elegant regularity.

With the coinciding days of the Balinese calendar, it's a different story. The basis for determining festive days is the 3-day, 5-day, and 7-day weeks. They fit perfectly into the 210-day calendar, with the days in these weeks proceeding one after the other, without surprises.

So, if today happens to be such a special day where a notable day of the 3-day week coincides with the 5-day week, you can even tell without looking at the calendar that the next such holiday will occur in 15 days, simply by multiplying 3 by 5.

The most important of the coinciding days in Pawukon is Kajeng Kliwon. If you happen to remember the names of the days in the 3-day week and the 5-day week (well, you never know?) - you'll easily understand that on this date, Kajeng - the third day of the three-day week, and Kliwon - the fifth day of the five-day week, occur simultaneously.

Let's remind you again how the three-day week of the Pawukon calendar looks:

Pasah

Beteng

And the five-day week:

Umanis

Paiing

Pon

Wage

Multiply 3 by 5, and you realize that this holiday can be celebrated every 15 days.

It is believed that in Kajeng Kliwon, dual elements and energies of the universe meet each other. And the energy of the greater world, the Universe, is manifested in the smaller world, in the individual.

On this day, according to Balinese beliefs, bhuta demons descend to Earth to find individuals who do not adhere to the principles of dharma and deal with them. That's why on this day, Balinese women make special offerings called "segehans," designed to appease evil spirits.

On this day, Balinese Hindus purify themselves to regain strength. This is why the day is favorable for visiting holy springs and bathing in them. This day is conducive to "pamusapati," a ceremony in which the spirit is invited into sacred objects, masks of Barong and Rangda characters, other masks, amulets, and daggers called kris, to imbue them with spiritual power.

There are three types of Kajeng Kliwon days: Kajeng Kliwon Uwudan, Kajeng Kliwon Enyitan, and Kajeng Kliwon Pamelastali. Uwudan aims to neutralize negative forces, while Enyitan enhances positive forces. Kajeng Kliwon Pamelastali is observed only every 6 months, and people suffering from serious chronic illnesses make offerings on this day to seek relief.

Rituals for both types are based on sincerity and honesty. For some individuals with non-medical conditions, it is recommended to practice the spiritual cleansing ritual on Kajeng Kliwon Uwudan.