Galungan & Kuningan Celebrations

Witness Bali’s most enthralling cultural celebration this February 29th.  The end of February and the beginning of March brings about the biggest Balinese religious holidays - Galungan and Kuningan.

Essentially a celebration of good over evil, Galungan and Kuningan are celebrated once every 210 days. Galungan is when ancestral spirits descend from heaven to earth to “rest” in family temples. They leave 10 days later, on Kuningan, the last day of the celebrations.

Preparations for Galungan and Kuningan can take an entire week, with a series of ceremonies being carried out almost every day until the peak on February 29th. You’ll know that Galungan is near when you see rows and rows of Penjors lining the streets - tall bamboo poles with offerings suspended at the end.

If you’re in Bali during this time, you’re in luck because you can witness the Balinese performing myriad offerings, prayers and cleansing rituals at home, in temples and on the beaches around the island.

On Galungan & Kuningan days, the Balinese will don traditional Balinese outfits and head to their family and village temples to pray. Afterward, it’s time for good food and quality time with the family.