Galungan and Kuningan – A Sacred Balinese Celebration

Galungan is a sacred Balinese event which celebrates the victory of dharma over adharma – essentially the victory of good over evil. 

It is a celebration when ancestral spirits of deceased relatives visit the Earth and after a ten-day celebration – the ceremony is closed on a day called Kuningan – the day on which our ancestral spirits ascend back to the spirit world. 

This honouring of our ancestors, gods and deities is what makes the Balinese culture so unique and special. Many rituals are performed and offerings are given to welcome their ancestors. 

During Galungan, Bali is alive with rituals, offerings, and prayers, honouring our ancestors, gods, and deities. It’s a time to pause, reflect, and welcome the guidance and wisdom of those who came before us.

On Kuningan, the final day of this sacred period, our ancestral spirits will ascend back to the spiritual world, leaving us with their protection and blessings until we meet again.

This is the heart of Balinese culture - our deep connection to the spirit world, to our roots, and to each other. It’s what makes Bali’s traditions so rich and special. 

 I personally try and organise my trips to Bali so I can be there for the Galungan and Kuningan celebration - it’s a time for family, prayer and ceremony. I love spending the days with my family praying together, eating the offering together and ‘chit chatting’ for hours (with lots of jokes and laughter throughout).