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The
Galungan and ”Ngelawang” Processions
Galungan
and Kuningan Holy Days are significant sacred
days for Balinese. This sacred day that
falls each six months or 210 days on the
Hindu’s calendar, this time being will
fall on Wednesday, 14 and 24 January. Hindu
members celebrate Galungan as anniversary
of dharma’s victory against adharma,
the goodness victory on evilness.
On
Galungan day, a merry nuance will tinge
in Bali. Penjor, a bamboo pole decorated
with yellowish coconut leaf, rice, and fruits,
set on in front of the house and street
border. Penjor symbolizes the mountain,
holiness, fertility, and prosperity. Penjor
is set as a grateful sign to God who contributes
life and prosperity existence resources.
Beside its religious aspect, Penjor is also
spouts the esthetic aspect. Penjor setting
on the street border on Galungan day make
Bali’s nuance. Before, penjor was only
set at the time of Galungan nadi, which
is Galungan that falls on the full moon.
Now, Penjor is set on each Galungan day,
because Galungan is a special day.
The day before Galungan, which is Tuesday,
is named Penampahan or nampah day. Nampah
means slaughtering the animal, usually pork
and small animals such as chickens and ducks.
The slaughtering activity is carried out
in-groups of about 20 persons or more, or
individually at their own homes. This meat,
besides being a sacrific to God, can also
be consumed at parties or enjoyed with relatives
and family. People who don’t slaughter
animals, can buy meat for Galungan preparation.
On Galungan, the Balinese Hindu offers the
offering at the family temple, pura desa
(village temple), and other great temple
in Bali, the praying execution held sacredly.
The next morning is called Umanis Galungan,
when Hindu members visit their relatives
or relax at tourist places. Children’s
entertainment centers are usually crowded
on Umanis Galungan day, full with children
wearing their new costumes, as a part of
Holy day’s cheerfulness.
Ten days after Galungan, on Saturday Kliwon
wuku Kuningan, 24 January, Hindu members
also celebrate another sacred day called
Kuningan Day, which is the series of Galungan
Day. On Kuningan Day, the member also prays
and travels to tourism spots, but not as
crowded as Galungan.
An interesting habit on Galungan or Kuningan
day, especially for village children, is
watching the barong dance around the village.
This Barong dance is usually danced at special
sites on temples or stages. However, on
a great day like Galungan, the dance is
danced in ther front of the house or small
shop on the street. This dance is called
ngelawang, which is regularly performed
for about 5 – 10 minutes, from one
place to another, and paid by the owner
of the house, the cost is around Rp 5.000.
The significant point of ngelawang is not
the amount of payment and performance duration,
but an entertainment that symbolizes an
effort to purify the village area. Years
ago, ngelawang was held to purify the village
territory and tranquilize villager’s
feelings and spirit after a disaster took
place. Ngelawang on this connotation was
held in Kuta, Legian, after the bomb-blast
12 October 2002. If there are no significant
incidents, ngelawang becomes an entertainment
and the continuation of arts tradition.
(BTN/Yan Beryas/04)
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