Holiday overview
Galungan
Galungan is a major Balinese Hindu festival celebrating the victory of dharma over adharma.
About this holiday
Galungan is one of Bali's most important religious festivals. Families prepare offerings, visit temples and honor ancestral spirits. It follows the 210-day Balinese Pawukon calendar, so it can occur twice in some Gregorian years.
History
The festival belongs to Bali's Pawukon calendar and is closely associated with Balinese Hindu ideas of cosmic balance, ancestral presence and the triumph of righteousness.
Traditions
- Preparing offerings
- Visiting temples and family shrines
- Decorating streets with penjor bamboo poles
- Gathering with family
Where and when this holiday appears
Related holidays
Frequently asked questions
Is Galungan a national public holiday in Indonesia?
Galungan is mainly observed in Bali and is best treated as a Bali regional religious holiday rather than a nationwide public holiday.
Why can Galungan happen twice in one year?
Galungan follows Bali's 210-day Pawukon calendar, which does not align with the Gregorian year.