diwali in Bali, Indonesia

Bali, Indonesia
The festival in the Hindu culture of Bali that celebrates the victory of good (dharma) over evil (adharma), just like Diwali, is called Galungan. However, the dates and the ritual grammar are derived from the Balinese calendar and culture.

Galungan marks the time when the ancestral spirits visit the Earth. The last day of the celebration is Kuningan, when they return. The date is calculated according to the 210-day Balinese calendar.




The series of Hindu religious ceremonies that are performed during this 10-day Festival 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.

The most obvious sign of the celebrations are the penjor - bamboo poles with offerings suspended at the end. These are installed by the side of roads.