The Balinese way of life revolves around an array of celebrations and ceremonies that take place throughout the year. While some celebrations are observed island-wide, like Nyepi, others are unique to specific regions, such as Nyepi Laut on the Nusa Penida islands

Why not plan your travels to Bali to coincide with one of these special events? It’s an excellent way to gain insight into the vibrant Balinese culture. And the people of Nusa Penida would be delighted to welcome you.

The two balinese calendars in Bali

The ceremonies, celebrations and events follow two different calendars used by the Balinese:

• The Pawukon calendar, whose year consists of only 210 days
• The Saka calendar, which comes from the Indian system. Each month begins with the new moon, occasion for great ceremonies.

Kuningan ceremony at Ped temple in Nusa Penida

The main celebrations in Bali

Odalan celebrations

Odalan celebrates the coming of the gods on each anniversary of the foundation of each temple. It takes place every 210 days since the foundation of the temple (once per year of the Pawukon then). Thus, the date is different for each temple. Some Odalan ceremonies last only 1 to 3 days, while others can last up to a month. Once the main religious ceremony is over, Odalan becomes more of a social occasion to meet its neighbors.

Galungan et Kuningan celebrations

Galungan celebrates the creation of the universe, the victory of the good, Dharma, against the evil, Adharma. The celebrations always take place on a Wednesday. The celebrations preparations start on the previous Monday, with the preparation of the cakes that will serve as offerings. Then, on Tuesday, men prepare the festive dinner (they kill pigs, to turn them into kebabs and blood sausages) and women prepare the offerings. Each house has to install a Penjor , a huge bamboo pole with colorfull offerings, before Penampahan day, the day before Galungan.

These festivities last 10 days and come to an end with Kuningan, which celebrates purification. On that same day, the ancestors’ souls are leaving their family’s temple.

Upcoming Galungan/Kuningan dates in Bali are :

• September 25 & October 5 2024
• April 23 & May 3 2025
• 19 November & 29 November 2025

Galungan ceremony at Ped temple

Saraswati celebrations

Saraswati celebrates the goddess of knowledge. The children, who pray and bring offerings to the temple of their school, mainly celebrate it. The Balinese also pay homage to the goddess and books by sprinkling holy water.

Upcoming Saraswati dates in Bali are :

• 8 February 2025
• 6 September 2025

Pagerwesi celebrations

Pagerwesi is the festival to spiritual strengthening and development of individuals’ forces against evil. Pager means : bareer and Wesi : metal. Therefore it means that everyone must surround themselves with strong fortifications against the forces of evil. All Balinese place offerings at their family temple and at other temples in order to be protected from any negative element.

Upcoming Pagerwesi dates in Bali are :

• 12 February 2025
• 10 September 2025

Tumpek celebrations

Every 35 days, the Balinese make offerings to items or valuable property :

• Music instruments, masks and outfits used during ceremonies (Tumpek Krulut) : 9 November 2024, 7 June 2025
• Pets and especially cattle (Tumpek Kandang) : 14 December 2024, 12 July 2025
• Puppets (Tupek Wayang) : 18 January 2025, 16 August 2025
• Iron objects such as cars, motorbikes, televisions, knives… (Tumpek Landep) : 22 February 2025, 20 September 2025
• And trees (Tumpek Uduh) : 29 March 2025, 25 October 2025

Kajeng Kliwon

On the day of Kajeng Kliwon the Hindu people of Bali purify themselves in order to receive strength and power. This day is also auspicious for the pamusapati, a ceremony in which the spirit is invited into sacred objects such as the barong, the rangda, the mask, the amulets, the kris etc. to give them spiritual power.

There are two Kajeng Kliwon: Kajeng Kliwon Uwudan and Kajeng Kliwon Enyitan. Kajeng Kliwon Uwudan neutralizes the negative powers and Kajeng Kliwon Enyitan increases the positive powers.

The rituals of both ceremonies are based on sincerity and honesty.

nyepi 2024 in denpasar

Nyepi celebrations

Nyepi is the Balinese New Year (of the Saka calendar). It takes place in March or April according on the Balinese calendar.

It corresponds to a day of silence, meditation, in order to refocus and liberate the minds from negative emotions. This silence is supposed to convince demons that the island is deserted, so that they will not come back to disturb its inhabitants.

What happens during Nyepi in Bali ?

During Nyepi, the entire island of Bali shuts down, and people are not allowed to leave their homes, hotels, or villas. All businesses are closed, and no lights, music, or noise is allowed. Even the airport is closed for the day. But public services, such as hospitals and fire departments, remain open for emergencies.

Pecalang, traditional security officers, patrol the streets to ensure the peace and serenity of Nyepi is maintained. There is therefore no light or sound pollution, which means ideal conditions to meditate and watch the stars ! But you need to book the right hotel or resort that will offer you food and drinks.

Nyepi, is preceded by Melasti, which is celebrated throughout the whole island of Bali. It corresponds to the great purification. On this occasion, the Balinese go to the sea or to a natural water source to purify their bodies and their sacred objects. But the day before Nyepi, the main road junctions receive large offerings supposed to exorcise evil spirits.

ogoh ogoh parade

The Ogoh Ogoh parade

What is the Ogoh Ogoh festival ? The day before Nyepi, known as Ngrupuk, people take to the streets to make noises to ward off evil spirits. Tourists can enjoy watching the Balinese people parade around with handmade floats depicting demons and evil spirits called ogoh-ogoh. Cymbals and firecrackers accompany the procession to frighten off evil spirits.

Do and don’t during Nyepi in Bali

To respect the culture and tradition of Nyepi, visitors and residents are advised to follow these dos and don’ts strictly.

Nyepi in Nusa Penida

Because the silence day of Nyepi took its origins in Nusa Penida, the inhabitants follow strictly the tradition and the electricity will be switch off from 6 am on March 11th 2023 till 6 am on March 12th 2023. There should also be no boat from or to Nusa Penida on the 10th afternoon. To know more, you can read about the history of Nyepi.

For the tourists it means, everywhere in Nusa Penida islands : everything will be closed (shops, transport, restaurants, etc.). There will be no electricity and no internet. No fires are allowed. You are not allowed to go out on the streets. So the best is to take some time to enjoy the stars during night (no light pollution) and the serenity, and to meditate. But also to be prepared by stocking up on water and food the day before Nyepi. Or to choose the proper hotel and resort, preferably with a pool, that will provide you with food and drinks.

Nyepi 2025 in Bali is on :

• 29 March 2025
• 19 March 2026
• 9 March 2027

Nyepi Laut in Nusa Penida

Nyepi Laut is the maritime version of the Nyepi silence day, practiced mainly on the 3 islands of Nusa Penida. That day there is no maritime activity on Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembogan and Nusa Ceningan. It means no boat to join or leave the islands, no boat between the islands, no scuba diving, no snorkeling. And no activity involving the sea like swimming or walking on the beach.

The goal of this day is to honor and appease Dewa Baruna, the ruler of the seas and oceans. This ritual practice started in the 17th century, under the reign of Dalem Waturenggong in the Klungkung regency of Klunkung. The ritual practice of this day includes meditation and silent contemplation on the importance of the aquatic environment. That is why it is better that day to wear a sarong to cover one’s legs and a modest shirt or blouse to cover one’s shoulders.

Independence day of Indonesia

On August 17, Indonesians celebrate independence by holding flag ceremonies at school and at the office. Try to attend to some of the afternoon games organized in many villages and cities ! But wherever you are in Bali, you will see the Indonesian flag everywhere!

‘Cuti Bersama’ is an expression which means “to go together or to bridge the gap”. These days compensate for a public holiday which, for example, falls on a Saturday or Sunday. For Idul fitri, employees can benefit from a week of leave which allows them to return to their hometowns or villages to celebrate this event with family. The Cuti Bersama are not fixed; During the year and depending on events, the government may add more. You should know that Cuti Bersama is deducted from vacation days, unlike public holidays which are added to them. Private companies are not obliged to apply them, but some large groups do.