On 19 November 2025, Balinese Hindus across the island and around the world celebrated Galungan, one of the most important holy days in the Balinese Hindu calendar. More than just a festival, Galungan was a spiritual reminder of the eternal victory of Dharma (righteousness) over Adharma (chaos and negativity).

The celebration follows a 210-day cycle based on the Wuku calendar, a traditional Balinese system consisting of a six-month year with thirty-five days in each month. This calendar is used to determine dewasa ayu, or auspicious days, when Balinese people choose the right time to begin important activities for blessings and good fortune.

The celebration was not just a single day—it was a three-day sacred cycle that began with Penyajaan, followed by Penampahan, culminating in Galungan Day, and continuing until Umanis Galungan. In 2025, preparations began on 17 November, setting in motion rituals that bound families, honored ancestors, and reinforced the cultural identity of Bali.

1. Penyajaan Galungan – Monday, 17 November 2025. The Day of Inner Preparation

Penyajaan marked the spiritual beginning of the Galungan cycle. On this day, families focused on preparing offerings and purifying their minds and homes.

Key elements of Penyajaan included:

• Making traditional cakes (jaja) and delicacies that were used in offerings.
• Cleaning and arranging the household shrine to welcome ancestral spirits.
• Strengthening inner readiness, as Balinese Hindus began to center themselves spiritually before the peak rituals.

Penyajaan was a gentle reminder that every sacred celebration began with mindfulness and sincerity.

2. Penampahan Galungan – Tuesday, 18 November 2025. The Day Before Galungan

Penampahan was the most active preparation day. Villages became lively as families completed their offerings and prepared the symbolic elements of the celebration.

Activities on this day included:

• Making Penjor, the tall, curved bamboo poles decorated with coconut leaves, rice, fruits, and natural materials. Penjor symbolized prosperity, gratitude, and the cosmic connection between humans and the divine.
• Preparing banten (ceremonial offerings) for temples, shrines, and ancestral spirits.
•  The sacred animal ritual, where pigs or chickens were prepared for offerings—symbolizing the purification of human tendencies like greed, anger, and ignorance.
• Gathering as a family, reinforcing unity and continuity between generations.

By sunset, villages were transformed as beautifully decorated penjor lined the streets, signaling the arrival of a holy day. One of the most cherished parts of Penampahan was preparing a variety of beloved Balinese dishes and flavors, such as lawar, urutan, tum, satay, jukut nangka, and many more

3. Galungan Day – Wednesday, 19 November 2025. The Victory of Dharma

On the main day, Balinese Hindus and their families, dressed in traditional praying attire, visited the main village temple and other related temples. They presented offerings, prayed, received holy water blessings, and had holy rice placed on their foreheads, strengthening their connection with the divine. Beautiful penjor lined every road, symbolizing prosperity and gratitude.

Galungan marked the moment when ancestral spirits (pitara) descended to Earth to bless their families. It was a day of devotion, gratitude, and spiritual clarity.

On Galungan:

• Families visited family temples (merajan) and village temples (pura desa/puseh) with offerings and prayers.
• Their ancestral spirits were welcomed with joy, as Galungan strengthened the relationship between the physical and spiritual worlds.
• Penjors stood tall as symbols of Mount Agung, prosperity, and the triumph of light over darkness.

Galungan was often described as the day when the universe felt full—full of blessings, harmony, and divine presence.

4. Umanis Galungan – Thursday, 20 November 2025.  The Day of Joy and Togetherness

Umanis Galungan was a more relaxed, joyful day that followed the intense devotional rituals. It was a time for:

• Visiting extended family and neighbors
• Sharing food and togetherness
• Enjoying village festivities and local traditions
• Reflecting on the inner meaning of the celebration

While Galungan was solemn and sacred, Umanis Galungan brought warmth and community connection. Ten days later, Kuningan day celebration follows.

Kuningan day will fall on Saturday, 29 November 2025, marking the closing of the Galungan celebration.

In Balinese, the word Kuningan comes from “nguningin,” which literally means “to remind” — a reminder that the Galungan period will have come to an end. On this sacred day, Balinese Hindus will believe that the ancestor spirits who descended during Galungan will ascend back to heaven, returning to the realm of the afterlife.

Families will prepare special offerings such as tamiang, endongan, and yellow rice to honor their journey back to the divine realm and to express gratitude for the blessings received. Kuningan will bring a serene and reflective atmosphere, completing the spiritual cycle that began with Galungan.

During this festival, Tlaga Singha celebrates Galungan and Kuningan with deep reverence by erecting majestic penjor and presenting offerings at the company’s sacred shrines. These rituals embody our gratitude for the blessings and success we have received throughout the year, acknowledging that every achievement is guided by divine grace.

Through this ceremony, we honor the three layers of connection in Balinese Hindu philosophy. First, the connection between humans and the world of bhur, the realm where lower beings dwell and where offerings are placed to maintain harmony. Second, the connection among humans themselves, expressed through warm handshakes and heartfelt greetings of “Happy Galungan Day” exchanged by our employees. And finally, the connection between humans and the ultimate God, as prayers and offerings are dedicated to express devotion, humility, and gratitude.

On these sacred days, we continue to serve our clients, allowing them to feel the vibrant spirit of the Island of the Gods during this festive season.

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