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Festival
as an important feature of the Balinese
life occurs on fixed dates according
to the Balinese Calendar. The temple
festivals take place mostly in every
210 days or every six months.
 There
are annual cycle and every six months
celebrations of holidays, life-cycle
ceremonies of a Balinese person
since the time inside the mother's
womb followed in stages up until
marriage and the most important
of the Balinese ritual is that includes
funeral rites and cremation.
To maintain and
preserve every aspect of the Balinese's
cultural life, Annual Festivals
have been held by the Provincial
Government. Such as: the Annual
Art Festival usually takes place
in every Saturday middle of June
to Saturday middle of July with
exhibitions and performances of
various kinds of artworks and cultural
achievements, Kite Festival.
Some
of the holidays are follows:
GALUNGAN:
This
is the most important holiday symbolizing
the victory of Virtue (Dharma) upon
Evil (Adharma). The holiday is specialized
by the fitting of 'penjor', a tall
bamboo pole splendidly decorated
with woven young coconut leaves,
fruit, cakes and flowers, on the
right side of every house entrance.
People are attired in their finest
clothes and jewel this day.
KUNINGAN:
This holiday takes place ten days
after Galungan, bringing the holiday
period to a closing time. On this
day, special ritual ceremony held
for the Ancestral spirits.
NYEPI:
This holiday is the Balinese's
New Year called I Çaka New Year,
the day of total silence throughout
the island. No activity is done.
No traffic at all on the roads,
no fire may be lit and no amusement
held for the daylong. Great purification
and sacrificial rites were held
the day before so as to exorcise
evil spirits from every corner of
the compound.
SARASWATI:
This day is devoted to God's Manifestation
as Saraswati Goddess, the beautiful
Goddess of Knowledge, Art and literature.
On this day, books of knowledge,
manuscripts and the Wedas are blessed
and special offerings are made for
them.
PAGERWESI:
The name literally means' iron
fence', on which day ceremonies
and prayers are held for strong
mental and spiritual defense in
welcoming the Galungan holiday.
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