subject: Ceremonies Of Bali - Uncover A Land Rich In Culture And Ritual In Boundless Bali [print this page] A popular saying in Bali exerts that not a day goes by in the holiday capital without a cultural ceremony of one sort or another. As a tropical heartland rich in culture and history the Bali calendar is indeed one full of local festivals celebrating everything from sacred rites of passage to every day events such as the birth of a newborn. With its religious identity firmly rooted in the beliefs of Hindu philosophy the cultural heritage of Bali is also steeped in filial piety or ancestor worship and the principles of animism which attributes a soul and spirit to all living creatures large and small. The Balinese are also known for celebrating each ominous event in the human life cycle with a religious or cultural ritual that has been so marked by generations upon generations since time immemorial.
The first highlight of the Balinese calendar is of course the welcoming of the New Year with the Saraswati Day festival which falls on a day specified by the Balinese Pawukon calendar. The entire nation dresses to the nines in colorful garbs as prayer ceremonies and other New Year celebrations are hosted in households, offices and even schools. A host of Balinese sweetmeats are also prepared for the event while the equally mesmerizing Wesak Day is marked by Buddhist shrines including the Borobudur Buddhist temple to celebrate the birth and enlightenment of Lord Buddha. Each Hindu temple in Bali also conducts large ceremonies on its founding day which typically falls on a full moon day every 210 days. Taking place for 3 to 11 days the anniversaries are celebrated with dances and Gamelan music. Sculptural representations of the deities are also ceremonially bathed in holy water although the Nyepi festival sees a cessation in all activities including lighting fires and preparing food for a period of 24 hours. Known as the Day of Silence the Balinese also practice abstinence and remain housebound for this unique local festival.
Life cycle ritual ceremonies in Bali on the other hand include the Gedong-gedongan, Rorasin, Menek Kelih and Odalan which are steeped in family values and auspicious periods as well as rites of passage from birth to the end of life.
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