No sooner has Nyepi Day passed is there another reason for celebration in Bali. Tourists in Bali right now will not be able to help but notice a lightness in the air and the magnificent penjor structures lining every street on the island.
This is because the holy Balinese festivals of Galungan and Kuningan are upon us.
Galunggan and Kuningan is one of the most spiritually important times of year in Bali, and for tourists one of the most culturally abundant to explore.
Galungan is the celebration of dharma over adharma, or more simply, the triumph of good over evil.
During Galungan Balinese Hindus believe that the ancestors descend to earth from the heavens and spend time amongst their earthly family.
Balinese Hindus welcome their ancestors to earth by cleaning their homes, creating puja or offerings, and visiting temples to partake in specific ceremonies. Kuningan is always observed 10 days after Galungan and marks the day when the ancestors return to the heavens.
The word Kuningan is derived from the word ‘kuning’ which means yellow. Culturally the color yellow symbolises blessings and purity and yellow is featured heavily throughout the offerings and puja presented during Kuningan. Traditionally yellow rice, or nasi kuning, is shared.
The traditional Balinese calendar, known as the Pawukon calendar, is 210 days in length. This means that the, the Galungan and Kuningan cycle can occur twice in one year. In 2025 the first cycle will see Galungan fall on 23rd April and Kuningan on the 3rd May.
Later this year, Galungan will come around again on the 19th of November, followed by Kuningan on the 29th of November.
One of the most recognizable elements of Galungan is the penjor. These magnificent structures are erected on Penampahan Day, which is the day before Galungan.
The penjor will be placed along every street, and almost every home, especially in Bali’s more traditional villages. The towering bamboo poles hold a lot of symbolism. They are decorated with coconut leaves, fruit, colorful paper, or dyed dried palm leaves.
Traditionally every family or community makes their own penjor by hand from bamboo harvested from around their homes. However, there are businesses throughout Bali that keep the tradition of penjor alive and make the structures on a more commercial level, enabling everyone to have access to the structures; think of them like Balinese Christmas trees! The team at Edo Penjor, one of Bali’s biggest producers of penjor, spoke to the media ahead of Galungan Day on 23rd April.
Kadek Dwika Ari Kusuma, the owner of Edo Penjor, explained how they are bringing new life and fresh elements to their penjor offerings this year. Kusuma explained “We want to make penjor look sweeter and more elegant with white and yellow. These two colors also symbolize purity and harmony, still in accordance with the meaning of Galungan.”
He added that changing the color of the penjor is not just aesthetics, but also a form of creativity in keeping the culture alive and relevant, sharing” What is important is that it remains in accordance with the rules and values of the tradition.”
Kusuma noted that the cost of materials has increased this year, but that they have done all they can to keep costs fair.
The average penjor for sale in Denpasar is priced between IDR 300,000-350,000. Kusuma said “The price of materials has indeed increased, but we are still holding the selling price. We only adjust it by IDR 10,000-IDR 20,000.”
For Kusuma, selling penjor is an inherently seasonal business, after the holy days are over, he will return to his street food cart where he sells nasi lawar.
He told reporters “I started this penjor business in junior high school. After graduating from high school and having worked in an office, I decided to focus on my own business.”
Tourists in Bali are generally welcome to take photos of all of the penjor and ceremonial offerings, however, tourists are advised to seek permission before taking photos, be mindful of temple etiquette, do not touch or move penjor or offerings of any kind, and to be respectful of the cultural and spiritual importance of this time for the Balinese people.
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