Galungan: The Victory of Dharma Over Adharma

The series of Hindu religious ceremonies that are performed during the 10-day Galungan-Kuningan period are generally considered to be the most important ones of Hindu Bali. During this period the followers of the Balinese Hindu Dharma religion focus on the importance of living a life based on dharma.

Preparations for the Galungan festival already start at Tumpek Uduh - 25 days before Galungan Day, at the Saturday of the 7th week of the Balinese Pawukon calendar, Wariga. The total length of the Galungan period therefore extends to 35 days (= 5 weeks, one Balinese month).

Galungan ceremonies

Further down this page you will find an overview of all ceremonial days of the Galungan festival, starting with Tumpek Uduh and ending with Tumpek Kuningan.

Special Galungan celebrations

1. Galungan Nadi - If Galungan Day coincidences with Purnama (full moon) - similar to the first celebration which took place at Purnama, October 15, 882 AD - then the ngotonan (anniversary) of Galungan is celebrated, a special day that is blessed by Sang Hyang Ketu (Dewa Kecemerlangan). Galungan Nadi occurs about every 10 years and is celebrated in a much more solemn way than ordinary Galungan celebrations; in general the offerings on this day will be more elaborate.
   
2. Galungan Nara Mangsa - If Galungan coincidences with Tilem (dark moon) Sasih Kepitu (7th month of the Balinese Saka moon calendar) or Tilem Sasih Kesanga (the 9th month of the Saka calendar, which is the day before Nyepi) then Galungan falls on a very bad day. Such days are ruled by Kala Rau - days on which the bhuta kala are very active while the dewa/dewi (gods) remain passive. The presented offerings of a Galungan Nara Mangsa will therefore be partly different from ordinary Galungan celebrations.

Sang Kala Tiga - symbol of adharma

One of the main characteristics of the Galungan period is the inner struggle between dharma and adharma, which is symbolized by the Kala-tiganing Galungan or Sang Kala Tiga who descends three times to earth to tempt mankind to adharma. The first time that this happens is three days before Galungan, at Penyekeban, in the shape of Sang Bhuta Galungan; the second time takes place the following day, at Penyajaan Galungan, in the shape of Sang Bhuta Dungulan and the third and last time happens the day before Galungan, Penampahan Galungan, as Sang Bhuta Amangkurat.

The Ngelawang ceremony of Galungan

During the Galungan festival the Hindu people of Bali usually perform a ceremony called Ngelawang which involves travelling around the village in the costume of Barong Rangda and Barong Kedengkling.

History of the Galungan celebrations

So far no records have been found which mention the origins of the Galungan celebrations. The origin of Galungan therefore still remains a mystery.

Earliest records: Lontar Purana Bali Dwipa

Purana Bali Dwipa can be translated as, "inner struggle for control of power" (pur=struggle, ana=I, bali=inner power, dwi=two, pa=master), which refers to the inner struggle between the ego and the higher self. NB. Bali is Sanskrit for 'inner power'.

The following is written in lontar Purana Bali Dwipa about Galungan,

1. Punang aci Galungan ika ngawit, Bu, Ka, Dungulan sasih kacatur, tanggal 15, isaka 804.
   
2. [a] Bangun [b] indria Buwana [c] ikang [d] Bali rajya.

This can be translated as follows,

1. The Galungan protection rituals start at Budha Kliwon Dungulan, at Purnama, the 15th of the fourth month of Saka 804 (Full Moon, October 15, 882 AD).
   
2. [a] When starting at that day [d] the kingdom of Bali [c] is like [b] the world of the gods (Indra Lokha).
   

This commonly accepted translation (2) however is an analogy with a highly symbolic
meaning.

First of all it refers to the fact that the circumstances of that day (the coincidence with Purnama and the dominant presence of highly positive cosmic energy that day) are most auspicious for cleansing oneself and becoming aware of the existence of one's higher self who strives for a life based on dharma versus the dominant ego who strives for adharma.

Secondly it points to the fact that if the higher self would be dominant over the ego, Bali would be like the world of the gods - or rather people (mankind) would be like gods, living life as it is supposed to be, as co-creators, with the awareness of a divine (higher) consciousness

And this is exact the intention of Galungan, to create awareness of the dualty of intentions of the higher self and the ego, and to try to reach one's higher consciousness. If one succeeds, the higher self will be dominant over the ego and the inner battle between dharma and adharma is over.

In this respect, [a] Bangun [b] indria Buwana [c] ikang [d] Bali rajya could also be translated as follows, which is much closer to the intention of the Galungan celebrations,

The waking up of (= becoming aware of, or rising up to) one's cosmic senses (= higher consciousness) can be realized with controlling one's inner power.

[a] bangun = [to] wake up, rising up, becoming aware

[b] indria = 1. sense 2. gods - buwana= 1. cosmos 2. world

[c] ikang= similar to - thus 'bangun indria buwana' = 'bali rayja'

[d] bali = inner power - rayja= [to] control

THE GALUNGAN CEREMONIES - OVERVIEW

Hereunder you will find an overview of all the specific ceremonial days of the Galungan festival, starting with Tumpek Uduh and ending with Tumpek Kuningan. You can click the names to access a detailed description of each of these Galungan ceremonies.

1. Tumpek Uduh
2. Sugian Pengenten
3. Sugian Jawa
4. Sugian Bali
5. Penyekeban
6. Penyajaan Galungan
7. Penampahan Galungan
8. Galungan Day
9. Umanis Galungan
10. Ulihan
11. Pemacakan Agung
12. Tumpek Kuningan