1. Overview
This article explores various significant cultural and spiritual festivals in Bali, celebrated by its Hindu-majority community. It provides insights into the unique traditions, festivities, and experiences available for visitors seeking to immerse themselves in Balinese culture.
Bali is a rarity in Southeast Asia: a vibrant Hindu-majority community in a region dominated by Islam and Buddhism; a hot tourist commodity where Western and traditionally indigenous ideas sit in a stable yet uneasy balance.
Bali’s holiday calendar represents this paradoxical push-and-pull of traditions and influences on the island: a mix of Hindu and secular celebrations that welcome tourist participation in good faith. When planning your visit to Bali, consult this list and sync up your trip with any of the celebrations below!
Nyepi
Nyepi, the Balinese New Year, is an interesting anomaly as far as traditional New Year celebrations go. Instead of ringing in the New Year with fireworks and noisemakers, the deeply devout Balinese celebrate Nyepi in near-absolute silence.
As the sun sets on the day before Nyepi, Balinese converge on the main crossroad of their respective villages in a raucous celebration known as Pengerupukan, where villagers in Bali carry ogoh-ogoh (monsters) symbolizing evil spirits that burden people’s lives.
On the day of Nyepi itself, the Balinese stop all their activities, turn off all lights, refrain from entertainment, and fast the whole day. The silence of Nyepi is intended to fool evil spirits, who will think the island is uninhabited and leave Bali in peace.
During Nyepi, tourists are requested to stay in their hotels for the entire day. Activity only picks up on the day after Nyepi, known as Ngembak Geni, as Balinese meet to seek forgiveness from each other.
In 2020, Nyepi takes place on March 25.
Bali Spirit Festival
Bali cornered the market on wellness tourism in Southeast Asia long before “Eat Pray Love.” The Bali Spirit Festival brings the island’s spirituality to a fever pitch, with a seven-day festival of workshops, concerts, markets and other events.
Taking place in Bali’s cultural capital, Ubud, the Bali Spirit Festival attracts visitors looking to explore different dimensions of their spiritual selves. Yoga enthusiasts can participate in classes covering various disciplines: Vinyasa, Astanga, Kundalini, Tantra, and more. Dance lessons allow participants to flow in a different way, and nightly music events merge world music with hypnotic EDM beats.
Holistic healing methods, showcased by experts from around the world, can be experienced in various sessions throughout the week. Additionally, numerous spirituality-related workshops unfold during the festival.
In 2020, the Bali Spirit Festival occurs in April (dates TBA).
Tumpek Wayang
The most important day of the year for Balinese wayang (shadow puppet) performers, Tumpek Wayang sees a flowering of wayang performances throughout the island.
The tradition of holding wayang performances on this date is rooted in Balinese myth. Balinese Hindus believe that the god of the underworld, Batara Kala, has cursed children born on Tumpek Wayang; such “wrongly born” people can purify themselves by staging a special shadow play called sapuh leger.
When visiting during Tumpek Wayang, check with a local community for a sapuh leger performance or visit a Balinese temple to see the puppets, arranged in a row to be blessed by a priest.
Tumpek Wayang follows the 210-day pawukon calendar; in 2019, the festival took place twice, on April 20 and November 16.
Ubud Food Festival
Bali’s food scene is rich and varied, but the island’s size means you can’t enjoy its full range if you’re only staying for a few days. Timing your trip for the Ubud Food Festival will allow you to enjoy the culinary scene in Ubud without needing to travel far.
The Festival features local and international chefs and food personalities, aiming to share Indonesia’s rich culinary culture with the world. Food enthusiasts can attend kitchen stage demonstrations and talks presented by renowned experts like William Wongso and MasterChef ice cream champion Ben Ungermann, covering various topics such as Peranakan cuisine and slow food.
Non-professionals can purchase passes to experience the Balinese and international dishes prepared for the Festival.
In 2019, the Ubud Food Festival took place from April 26 to 28.
Bali Arts Festival
Address
Jl. Nusa Indah No.1, Panjer, Denpasar Selatan, Kota Denpasar, Bali 80236, Indonesia
Phone +62 361 227176
Imagine one whole month celebrating the best of Bali’s native heritage, connecting it to modern forms of expression. Traditional theater transforms into contemporary performances. Culinary exhibitions showcase both Balinese and Western-fusion cuisine. A wide array of art forms, including painting, documentary films, shadow puppetry, and music, are on display.
Staged at the Taman Werdhi Budaya Arts Centre in Denpasar, the Bali Arts Festival utilizes the Centre’s outdoor pavilions, stages, and auditorium spaces to create a vibrant showcase of art. Each day brings a unique lineup, ensuring that visitors will see something new and interesting during their visit!
In 2019, the Bali Arts Festival took place between June 16 and July 14.
Galungan
The 210-day traditional pawukon calendar followed by Balinese Hindus honors one festival above all: Galungan, a time when the Balinese believe the spirits of the dead roam the earth.
Galungan kicks off a 10-day celebration across Bali honoring the one God above all (Ida Sang Hyang Widi Wasa), also known as the Inconceivable (Acintya): as Galungan begins, Balinese warmly welcome spirits through rituals in their homes and local temples.
The Ngelawang ritual is a highlight of Galungan: an exorcism ceremony featuring a man dressed as a “barong” (a mythical beast symbolizing divine protection). The barong’s village rounds aim to restore the balance of good and evil, with locals offering small gifts in exchange.
In 2019, Galungan took place between July 24 and August 3.
Bali Kite Festival
The winds start picking up speed in July, providing the Balinese with a convenient excuse to let their colorful kites fly. Visit Padang Galak Beach near Sanur during the Bali Kite Festival, and witness kite-flyers unleash vibrant designs, including wild animals and dragons, all competing for their share of the sky.
The Padang Galak event is just one of several kite-flying festivals held across Bali at this time, but it is arguably the most prestigious, offering the largest cash prize to participating kite flyers.
In 2019, the Bali Kite Festival began on July 28 and continued until the end of October.
Ubud Village Jazz Festival
Address
Jl. Raya Pengosekan Ubud, Ubud, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571, Indonesia
Phone +62 361 976659
The Balinese have had a stellar education in jazz since 2010, courtesy of the Ubud Village Jazz Festival.
This event occurs at the Agung Rai Museum of Art, entertaining over 5,000 guests with performances from artists both local and international. The local support for jazz is a testament to Ubud’s long-standing eagerness to promote the arts, evident in the number of art museums in the area.
In addition to music, the Ubud Village Jazz Festival hosts food and craft fairs for attendees less inclined to musical performances.
In 2019, the Ubud Village Jazz Festival took place on August 16-17.
Sanur Village Festival
Sanur in South Bali was particularly affected by the Bali bombing of 2005, but they rebounded powerfully with the Sanur Village Festival, held the following year.
This festival celebrates all that is good about Bali, showcasing the island’s rich culture, tradition, and sports over five days packed with gamelan music, kite flying, beach soccer, and wayang kulit performances. The last festival attracted over 20,000 visitors from beginning to end.
Several major sporting events are incorporated into the festival lineup, such as the Sanur Quadrathon (combining biking, running, swimming, and canoeing) along with an Amateur Open at the Bali Beach Golf Course.
In 2019, the Sanur Village Festival took place from August 16-22.
Maybank Bali Marathon
Since its inaugural event in 2012, the Maybank Bali Marathon has become a must-see international running event. More than 10,000 runners from 46 countries are expected to participate this year, competing in one of the “52 Best Races on Earth” as ranked by Runners World magazine.
Tourists who enjoy running can participate in one of the four distances offered (including kids’ dashes, a 10k, and both half and full marathons), taking in the gorgeous landscapes of Gianyar and Klungkung regencies’ rice paddies and rolling hills.
During the race, Balinese culture is on full display, with local communities showcasing songs, dances, and other traditional art forms along the route. A video is available to give a feel of the marathon, its course, and the atmosphere.
In 2019, the Maybank Bali Marathon took place on September 9.
Odalan
Throughout Bali, a temple festival (Odalan) occurs daily, an inevitable feature given the thousands of temples across the island. Odalan commemorates the temple’s founding with a parade of offerings by local devotees, accompanied by traditional music. Balinese dance performances entertain both the gods and the crowds alike.
The temple becomes vibrant with penjor (Balinese banners), flowers, and devotees celebrating as a community. Most odalan events span one or more days, aligning with either a full or new moon.
Each temple has its own odalan, dictated by the 210-day pawukon calendar. For each of the top temples in Bali, the next odalan season is noted to help you plan your visit accordingly.
