Galungan Day at Denbantas Village

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January 23rd 2008

Published: January 23rd 2008

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Lorin

The Hindu Prays

Galungan Day at village's Pura

January 23, 2008 is a special day for Hindu Balinese community, as they celebrate Galungan Day. The Hindu celebrates Galungan day every six months. Galungan Day held on Wednesday and will be followed by Kuningan Day on the Saturday. This 11-day holy period is based on ancient harvest festival. Barong dance held house to house on Galungan Day.
I’m very interested to know what the Hindu do on Galungan day. And I was looking for information, which Pura (Hindu’s place for praying) allows tourist visits. I heard about a big Pura which allows tourist visits called Pura Jagatnatha in Denpasar, but I still look for another alternative. Luckily Adit, my colleague, knows my interest and invites me to come to the Pura which located on his village. Most Balinese who lives in the city are came from village, and they will back to pray at their village on festive day. I accepted the invitation and ask Meita, my non-Hindu colleague to accompany me.
Adit’s village called Denbantas Village and located at Tabanan area. It took us 1 hour to get there from Denpasar. Based on Adit’s information, anyone who enters the Pura must use Kamen (Balinese clothes).
We started the journey

Balinese House

Separate to Four Buildings

on 10 am. The street was a bit crowded as there were so many people go to their villages. By 11 am, we arrived at Adit’s house in Denbantas. It’s my first time coming to a Balinese house in a village. Common Balinese houses separate to 4 buildings which reflects 4 ways (North, South, West, and East) which will be given to the family’s son and daughter. And most Balinese house has a Lumbung (a rice warehouse). After had a rest for a while, we went to the village’s Pura called Pura Dalem Purwa Kubontingguh. The Pura locates inside a forest with many water falls, ponds, and river.
It took us a long way (almost one kilometer) walking to the Pura from where we parked the car. Using a long skirt enabled Meita and I to walk faster. There were three different Puras. The first is locates in the lower place near the river and used to clean the Hindu’s mind and soul. The second Pura locates on the medium height place and used to get the Hindu closer to their Betara (prophet). The third Pura locates on the highest place and used to get the Hindu closer to their

The Lumbung

Rice Warehouse at Balinese Houses

god. The ritual on each Pura is mostly the same. They clean their hands and head with water, burn the stick, pray together with the Pedanda (priest), the Pedanda sparkle a holy water, and give small amount of rice as a symbol of prosperity. (Forgive me if I'm wrong).
At the first Pura, Meita and I were waiting outside the praying place and took pictures. At the second Pura, Meita and I were planning to stay outside the Pura. But the Hindus are so nice and told us it’s ok to wait inside the Pura. Although we weren’t pray, I thought it would be my best time to take pictures. I was so excited to take pictures (off course without cameras sound and light). It came to the ending part where the Pedanda walk around the Hindu to spark the holy water and give the rice. The Pedanda suddenly walked in front of me, and sparkle the water on me. It was quite unpredictable but yet a rare experience.
We went to the third Pura. And this time, Meita and I were exhausted as it was a very hot sunny day. We decided to stay outside the Pura to have