Victory of Dharma
and Temple Festivals

Temple festivals have followed this November 2002’s Galungan Festival, symbolizing the victory of Dharma against A-dharma. The temple festivals have been manifestations of thanks by Hindu adherents to God Almighty with His blessings, through offering “sesajen” in various forms from the simple up to “gebogan” or fruit arrangements.

The “gebogan” class of “sesajen” offerings were in forms of special structures of fruits, cakes, “janur” young coconut leaves, arranged on wooden dulang bowls to be carried to temples on women’s heads

(On Kuningan Day as one point in a chain of festivals of Galungan, Hindu adherents went to Sakenan Temple located at Serangan Islet. Differing from the way used in former times, people have got there not by sea and mangrove forests, but by means of land transportation

Temple festivals took place at Taman Ayun Temple in Badung’s Mengwi

Temple festival occurred at Tabanan Regency’s Pura Alas Kedaton

Hindu adherents flocked into Tabanan Regency’s Tanah Lot Temple, complete with their implements of God’s observance

The case some what different with what has happen in Denpasar’s Kesiman Village with its “ngurek” event filled with a demonstration of braveness by people through piercing daggers into their bodies in a trance condition without damaging their skins. In this procession, the fanged Rangda Demon and Barong Beast also appeared participating in the ceremony for purification by local inhabitants (Photo & text by Gustra).