Next Wednesday, May 12, 2010, Balinese Hindu will celebrate Dharma Victorious Day called Galungan. It is celebrated every 210 days of ordinary calendar or a period of Balinese Calendar. The series days of celebrating Galungan had been started a week ago, there was Sugihan Bali, Sugihan Jawa, Penyajaan, Pengejukan Day, Penampahan and finally Galungan Day. The process is completely full of philosophical meaning where each Hindu in Bali should show their respect to The Almighty God and their ancestor. Each step of the series is internally a form of the microcosm cleanliness. They started with remembering their ancestor, pray and devote for the eternal release of their souls. It is a kind of self introspection that we are in the circle of Karma Law. Then, there is penampahan (killing or butchering). It has a deep meaning of conquering ourself from badness. We remove every enemies in ourself. We do sacrifice to balance the nature from any harms.

And then, comes a victorious day of Galungan. The moment where we conquer Dharma upon Adharma. There is a legend about this victorious day. Where God Indra, in the form of, Sangkul Putih (white Priest) defeated Maya Denawa (king of demons). Next time, we will tell the complete story in this sharing forum. We do hope that every Coordinator in Hindu Coordination Center will have their own sharing celebration for Hindu everywhere in this planet.

In Bali, Galungan is celebrating gloriously. Every house has to put a Penjor, high curved bambo with offering ornaments as the symbol of Mount Agung, the highest mountain in Bali. It is believed as the stana of Siva. Penjor will connect devotion sign of the people to God. They put some harvest as the symbol of people thanks to God of welfare and prosperity given. They will pray in their family temples. They gather to share and show family love.

The day after Galungan, people will visit each other to form a close relation as God creation. They will be in joyful, happy and forgiving day.

Happy Galungan Day for Balinese Hindu all over the world. May God, Ida Sanghyang Widhi Wasa bless us with peace, happiness and prosperity physically and mentally.