7 Amazing Festivals in Bali You Need to Know in 2022

TheIndonesia.id - What makes you interested to come to Bali? Is it the stunning beaches, the delightful cuisine, the amazing nightlife, or the cultural festival? If you are about to visit Bali for the latter reason, you have come to the right place!

We have listed 7 amazing festivals in Bali that will let you immerse yourself in the grace of the culture and traditions of Bali. Let’s have a check!

1. Nyepi and Balinese New Year on March

 

The Balinese New Year celebrations last for six days, and the center of the celebration is Nyepi. But instead of being a bustling event, Nyepi is actually Bali's “Day of Silence”, a public holiday that involves silence, self-reflection, fasting, and meditation. The island is at a standstill, with most activities banned, including entertainment, work, and travel. Empty streets and very little activity or noise. Tourists are no exception, with beaches off-limits and shops and businesses closed. Tourists are no exception, with beaches off-limits and businesses and shops closed.

Nyepi is held on the third day, but there are lots of other activities to attend on the other days. Ogoh-Ogoh parades take place on the evening before Nyepi, during which the boys and men of each village march through the streets, accompanied by gamelan music, claxons, and drums, carrying big effigies of fearsome monsters, which are then ritually burned to symbolize the abolition of evil. The day after Nyepi, Ngembak Geni, witnesses the return to common day, with more rites and celebrations.

2. Saraswati Day on March and October

Saraswati Day honors Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of music, knowledge, arts, wisdom, and learning, and occurs every 210 days on the Balinese calendar. People clean and dust their books the day before the celebration, and then give sacrifices to Saraswati wherever they are, whether at work, at home, or in the temple, on Saraswati Day.

To emphasize the significance of the study, these presents are generally put inside books. On Saraswati Day, people refrain from reading or writing in their books because they are considered offerings to the goddess. After that, it's customary to visit a temple in the evening to read holy books in honor of Saraswati. Pagerwasi, which falls three days after Saraswati Day, is a festival dedicated to protecting knowledge from evil (Pagerwasi means "iron fence").

3. Ubud Food Festival on April

As we know, Indonesia is one of the most populous countries in the world. It has thousands of islands containing a wide range of cultures and products. The annual Ubud Food Festival is a fantastic way to learn more about the country's unique cuisine. The three-day festival celebrates Indonesian cuisine, as well as the country's inventive chefs and the diverse range of ingredients available.

Cooking demonstrations, seminars, food tours, workshops, cooking schools, and markets, as well as live music and other entertainment, are all part of the event. You can also travel to one of Ubud's many restaurants, which range from stalls of street food to fine-dining establishments, to learn that the country has much more to offer than nasi goreng, satay, and beef rendang.

 

4. Galungan on June

Galungan is a 10-day festival that commemorates the triumph of good (Dharma) over evil (Adharma). Balinese Hindus believe that the gods descend to earth to join in the festivities, and that the spirits of the deceased will return to their homes if offerings are left for them — search for penjor, which are tall poles decorated with fruit, flowers, and leaves, and placed outside homes all over the island.

Balinese people attend temples and travel to see extended family during Galungan. Every village also holds a Ngelawang ceremony to ward off evil spirits. The festival culminates on Kuningan, when supreme deity Sang Hyang Widhi comes to bless everyone before all the gods and ancestors depart to their respective realms. Following that comes Manis Kuningan, a day dedicated to celebration and fun. Galungan occurs every 210 days.

5. Bali Arts Festival on June-July

The Bali Arts Festival celebrates Bali's unique and traditional arts. The annual event has been held every year since 1979, with the goal of preserving Balinese culture and revitalizing the island's forgotten creative forms. It now includes dance, art, puppetry, handicrafts, music, and much more, with performers hailing from villages and towns across Bali, as well as from other parts of Indonesia and beyond.

The festival lasts a month and kicks off with a big opening procession at the Bajra Sandhi monument in Renon, Denpasar, where numerous events take place at the Werdhi Budaya Arts Centre (also known as the Bali Arts Centre).

6. Bali Kite Festival on July

 

The weather in Bali in July is sunny and dry, with a gentle wind. It's the ideal time of year to participate in a popular and traditional island pastime: kite flying. The Bali Kite Festival honors the Balinese love of kite flying while also honoring the Hindu gods for a healthy crop harvest.

The festival takes place near Sanur, on the shore near Denpasar, and attracts guests from all around Indonesia and beyond. Balinese kites, which are often 10x4 meters in size (with tails up to 150 meters long), are flown by teams representing different towns. Common designs include fish, birds, and foliage. There are prizes for the best design, best launch, and longest flight, among other categories. Each team consists of ten kite flyers and up to 70 additional individuals who encourage them by waving flags and performing Gamelan music.

7. Ubud Writers and Readers Festival on October

This annual 10-day literary festival in Ubud draws writers and book enthusiasts from all over the world. Literary readings, lunches, dialogues, and panel discussions are among the events, as are writing workshops where aspiring authors can learn new techniques and have their work assessed.

The Ubud Writers & Readers Festival is widely regarded as Southeast Asia's most important literary event. The event has a different theme each year, and it comprises Indonesian and foreign authors discussing their books, which span a wide range of topics.