To our Balinese Family and Friends “Selamat Hari Raya Kuningan”

To our Balinese Family and Friends

“Selamat Hari Raya Kuningan”

This special day falls 10 days after Galungan and prayers, offerings are given for the ancestral spirits return to Heaven.

We hope you all enjoy today.

Galungan is a Balinese holiday celebrating the victory of dharma over adharma.^[1] It 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.

Galungan marks the beginning of the most important recurring religious ceremonies. The spirits of deceased relatives who have died and been cremated return to visit their former homes, and the current inhabitants have a responsibility to be hospitable through prayers and offerings. 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. A number of days around the Kuningan day have special names, and are marked by the organization of particular activities