Public Holiday Calendar

January 1 New Year's Day (Western Calendar)

Feb 20, 21 Idul Fitri Festival

March 21 Seclusion Day / Saba New Year

April 5 Good Friday

April 28 Idul Adha Great Day

May 16 Ascention day of Christ

May 19 Hijriah New Year

June 2 Waisak Day

July 28 Maulid of Prophet Mumammad

August 17 National Independence Day

December 8 Isra Miraj of Prophet Muhammad

December 25 Christmas Day

Being in Bali lets you experience the endless series of offerings, purification, processions, dances, and dozens of other religious rites that Balinese devote their lives to. They believe that life on earth is one stage in the continuity of existence. The cycle begins at birth and it is a cherished event attended by the entire family and a holy man who invokes spiritual powers to aid the delivery. Death is merely a rite of passage when the soul is freed. It will commence its great journey before being reborn into a future generation.

There are a myriad of festivals in Bali as well. Some are dedicated to the art of woodcarving or the birth of a goddess. Other festivals include temple festivals, fasting & retreat ceremonies, cleansing festival, special prayers for the dead, nights of penance (sivaratri), harvest festivals (usaba), blood sacrifices and house deity anniversaries (odalan sangguh).

TIP: When you first arrive in Bali it is advised that you seek out a tourist office and get a list of current festivals and events from them. As Bali has festivals almost daily especially temple festivals, the tourist office will fill you in on these local festivities, many of which are not listed below due to the fact that the dates for the celebrations fluctuate from year to year.

The Balinese Calendar/s

The Balinese use three types of calendars altogether for one year; one being the typical Western calendar and the other two being none other than local Balinese calendars, the saka and the wuku calendar. The wuku calendar is used to find out dates for festivals and has 10 different weeks, each from one to 10 days and all running simultaneously.

The major events in the life of a Balinese is believed to occur on fixed dates, which go according to the Balinese Calendar. Unlike temple festivals, these major events take place nearly every six months or every 210 days!

The Balinese believe in annual cycles and every six months of a Balinese's life is a celebration of holidays and life-cycle ceremonies. Since his conception in his mother's womb, every Balinese passes through certain stages, and this carries on up until marriage. These are the events celebrated to mark the passage of a Balinese as he progresses in his life. But the ritual of utmost importance to the Balinese is the ritual of the funeral rites and cremation.

It is, therefore, extremely obvious that festivals and events are an integral part of Balinese life and a huge part of the mysticism and allure that sets Bali apart from any other land.

The saka calendar is a lunar calendar of Hindu origin, which closely follows the Western calendar in terms of the length of the year. With illustrations for each day indicating what activities that day is auspicious for, Balinese calendars make popular souvenirs.

Some of Bali's major temples celebrate their festivals according to the dictates of the saka calendar. Hence, the actual date of a festival is difficult to determine from the Western calendar since the lunar saka does not have a predetermined number of days.

The wuku calendar, however, does have a set number of days. According to the saka, full moons days from the end of September till the start of October, or from early to mid-April are normally important festive dates, and temples will celebrate important temple festivals then.

Religious Festivals

Religious festivals need some explanation and I have included a description of the main celebrations below. The festivities last a couple of days to a week. Temples are beautifully bedecked with flowers, palm leaves, flags and bamboo towers, complete with noisy parades, food offerings and prayers that add religious fervour to the festive ambience.

Melasti, is a purification festival held the day before Nyepi. On Melasti, villagers dress in their finest and make their way to the sea or holy springs. They carry umbrellas, offerings or flowers and fruit and sacred statues. This festival must be carried out amid the din of gamelan and drums and lots of merry shouting. All falls silent the following day on Nyepi.

Nyepi is a festival that marks the beginning of a new lunar year and usually falls during the spring equinox (late March or early April). On this day, everyone in Bali including tourists must remain silent. No one is allowed to work, travel or partake in any indulgences. Visitors are advised to observe this custom and to stay within their lodgings for the day. It may seem like a day is wasted, but the previous night's festivities would have sapped substantial energy and spirit to make up for the day of stillness. It is believed that evil spirits leave the island, thinking that the place is uninhabited due to the complete stillness.

Pagerwesi The name literally means  "iron fence", on which day ceremonies and prayers are held for strong mental and spiritual defence in welcoming the Galungan holiday, held at every compound and temple throughout Bali.

Galungan is another festival related to religion. It is observed in the eleventh week of the 210th day in the Balinese calendar and celebrates the creation of our world. This is Bali's most significant annual event, locals spend the day visiting family, friends and neighbours decked in their finest and indulge in heavy feasting.

Ten days after Galungan is Kuningan. This festival commemorates the end of the holiday season. On this occasion, ancestors are worshipped and honoured with celebrations held at the water temple Tampaksiring, along with other events in Bangli and Ubud.

The restoration of balance between good and evil is also commemorated. Eka Dasa Rudra is the island's most important festival and was originally held every hundred years. It is now being revised to hold the festival more frequently and the next one has yet to be announced.

Non-Religious Festivals and Holidays

Balinese ceremonies are normally held during late afternoons or evenings when the day is cooler. Balinese believe that the island is owned by the supreme god Sanghyang Widhi and has been handed down to the Balinese in sacred trust. To show their appreciation, the people fill their waking hours with symbolic activities and worship. If you see a procession of women garbed in traditional wear, carrying small bowls or balancing towering offerings on their heads, or a group of batik-clad men with head-cloths, just put on a shirt, grab your camera and mingle with the crowd - you will always be welcomed.

New Year's Day (January 1st) On New Year's Eve street festivals and carnivals are held. Paper trumpets are sold and can be heard blown everywhere. New Year's day itself tends to be a quiet affair as most people are recovering from the celebrations the night before.

Good Friday (Christian festival) (April) is celebrated by those of the Christian faith and is held on the Friday before Easter.

Easter (April) Is celebrated by Christians throughout Bali and consists of religious ceremonies performed at the various churches on the island and within private homes

Muharram Moslem New Year (March)

Idul Adha Moslem Day of Sacrifice (March)

Ngaben or Pelebon is the cremation ceremony that is a typical Balinese Hinduism phenomenon.

Great Purification Ceremony called " mekiyis " or " melis ", when thousands of temple adherents in Bali go to the beaches of Bali, especially Kuta and Sanur, carrying their respective temple effigies, started very early in the morning in welcoming " Nyepi Holiday", the Icaka new year.

Tawur Agung Kesanga (Great Sacrificial Ceremony) is when rituals are held in welcoming " Nyepi " holiday starting from every family - compound ,village, up to the provincial area focussed in Puputan - Square, downtown of Denpasar at 12.00 noon . The ritual will be followed by procession of "Ogoh-ogoh " (huge monster dolls) symbolizing evil spirits along the village and city roads in the evening.

Nyepi Holiday (Icaka New Year), the day of absolute silence throughout the island when no activity is done, no traffic is seen anywhereno fireis lit and no amusement is held along the day. It's the day of self - introspection for Hindu followers when the entire island turns quiet.

Kartini Day (April) Women wear national dress to commemorate birth of Raden Ajeng Kartini, founder of womens' rights movement.

Hari Raya Waisak Day (May) Buddha's birth/death is celebrated with a procession from Candi Mendut to Borobodor.

Tumpek Wayang, the day is devoted to Sanghyang Iswara, lord of puppeteers. Blessing ceremonies are given to puppet/play sets.

Maulud Nabi Muhammad (July) Celebrates the birth of Mohammad. Festivities start one week before.

Tumpek Uduh devoted to Sanghyang  Sangkara, Lord of all food - plants. This is when a blessing ceremony is given to them for good crops and products, held on every plantation and farm throughout the island.

Saraswati is devoted to Sanghyang Aji Saraswati, the Goddess of knowledge and Art. On this day, books of knowledge, manuscripts and the Wedas are blessed and special offerings are made for them.

Tumpek Landep Day is devoted to Sanghyang Pasupati, lord of heirlooms, weapons and tools made of metal for war functions and magical powers. The ceremony is held at every compound and temple throughout Bali.

Bali Art Festival (mid-June through mid-July) If you are planning to visit Bali at this time it is worth the extra effort to be in Bali on opening day. Never will you have a better opportunity to see Bali's glorious culture so close at hand. The Taman Budaya (Art Centre) is where the main events are held each year.

Kite Festival (June or July) Hundreds of kites in a myriad of forms and colours decorate the blue Bali skies, treating foreign travellers to yet another aspect of the island's unique culture.

Negara Bull Races (July to October) If you are in Bali at this time you will have the opportunity to experience the Negara bull races. The pampered bulls are spruced up with accessories, hitched in pairs to makeshift chariots and steered by jockeys who combine their riding skills and tail twisting to induce maximum performance.

Rice Harvest Festival dedicated to the rice god Dewi Sri, is a blessed season for the villages and the entire island will be repainted and decorated with flags. An atmosphere of happiness pervades. Small straw rice-god dolls are placed throughout the fields and villages as a tribute.

Metatah Tooth Filing Ceremony Held throughout Bali the ceremony helps people rid themselves of the invisible forces of evil - teeth are the symbol of lust, greed, anger, insobriety, confusion and jealousy. Filing the teeth therefore renders someone both more physically and more spiritually beautiful, as well as symbolising the rite of passage for an adolescent into adulthood.

Independence Day (August 17th) is when the Republic of Indonesia achieved independence from the Dutch.

Nusa Dua Festival (August/September) Travellers to Bali, will have a special treat when the rich and vibrant local culture is presented during this week-long Nusa Dua Festival.

Pemendakan Is a welcoming ceremony held from Denpasar to Pura Sakenan and Serangan Island, in the afternoon.

Isra Mi'raj Nabi (October) Prophet Mohammad's Ascension Day.

Tumpek Kandang is when rituals are held at every farm and family compound, and offerings to Sanghyang Rare ¨C Angon, master of cattle and livestock are made. This day the animals are blessed and comforted.

Ramadan (Usually mid-November through to mid-December) This Islamic festival lasts a month and members of this faith fast during daylight hours and only eat and drink once the sun has set and before it rises the following day.

Christmas Day (December 25th) is celebrated by members of the Christian faith throughout the island.

Odalan Festival Held by every temple on its anniversary, every 210th day, lasting 3 days. With over 20,000 temples on Bali, there are many opportunities to see this festival. 1st day - Procession of the village women to the temple. The women wear traditional clothes, and carry offerings of fruits and rice cakes arranged in a pyramid, on their heads. The food is left at the temple for 3 days then eaten. Gamelan, dance and wayang puppet performances are held in the evenings and cockfighting also takes place.