Festivals
Holidays & Celebrations in Bali 2013
January 10th 2013
Siwaratri, The 'night of Siwa' is an auspicious time for prayer, introspection and meditation. During this period, Balinese Hindus undertake practices including:
- Monabrata - silence, not speaking for a period of 12 hours,
- Upawasa - fasting, not eating or drinking during 24 hours,
- Mejagra - meditation, not sleeping during 36 hours
January 12th 2013
Saraswati, This day is devoted to God's Manifestation as Dewi Saraswati, 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. In recognition of the Goddess’s gift, no writing or reading is allowed.
January 16th 2013
Pagerwesi, The name literally means 'iron fence', on which day ceremonies and prayers are held for strong mental and spiritual defense.
March 09th 2013
Melasti, Three days before Nyepi, this event is held to cleanse the holy artifacts held in local temples, and to focus the mind on God. The ceremony is aimed to clean all of Nature and to take Amerta (the source of eternal life) from the ocean or other water sources (lake, river, etc).
March 11th 2013
Tawur Kesanga, The dark moon of the Spring Equinox, one day before Nyepi, is the climax of the exorcism ceremonies (mecaru) held at every level of society to cleanse the village before the New Year. Rituals are performed in order to vanquish the negative elements. Parades are held featuring Ogoh - Ogoh (fantastic monsters and evil spirits or Bhuta Kala made of bamboo and paper mâché). Everyone makes noise and carries burning torches, and it is a carnival-like atmosphere.
March 12th 2013
Nyepi, This holiday is the Balinese Çaka New Year, a day of total silence throughout the island. It is a day of complete stillness, no work, no activity, no traffic, no people at all on the roads or the beach, no noise, no light, no electricity. The New Year is marked with meditation, in line with Balinese Hindu principles, to ensure the world is “clean’ at the start of the year.
March 20th - 24th 2013
Balispirit Festival, This annual festival is a spiritually charged event that celebrates yoga, dance and music and the synergy of global cultural collaboration through the arts.
March 27th 2013
Galungan, This is a major holiday lasting 10 days, during which the gods and ancestors descend to earth, and Good (Dharma) triumphs over Evil (Adharma). Galungan features sacred temple dances, and 'penjor', tall bamboo poles splendidly decorated with woven young coconut leaves, fruit and flowers, beside every house entrance. Ceremonies are held throughout the island.
April 06th 2013
Kuningan, This takes place ten days after Galungan, bringing the holiday period to a close. On this day, a special ritual ceremony is held for Ancestral spirits.
May 15th 2013
Gaia-Oasis Birthday, Join us for our annual celebration!
July 15th 2013
Bali Kite Festival, Traditional giant kites measuring around four metres in width take flight near Sanur Beach during the annual Bali Kite Festival. The three-day event welcomes kites in all shapes and colours and sees a traditional gamelan orchestra provide music and entertainment.
August 10th 2013
Saraswati, This day is devoted to God's Manifestation as Dewi Saraswati, 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. In recognition of the Goddess’s gift, no writing or reading is allowed.
August 14th 2013
Pagerwesi, The name literally means 'iron fence', on which day ceremonies and prayers are held for strong mental and spiritual defense.
September 18th – 23rd 2013
Sail Indonesia, At least 22 countries including US, Japan, Australia, Britain and Italy will participate in the annual event “Sail Indonesia” in Lovina Beach area, Buleleng Regency, northern Bali. The local council will also hold traditional arts performances and exhibitions of local handicraft on its coastal area.
October 11th – 15th 2013
Ubud Writers & Readers Festival ( UWRF), The 10th International UWRF will be held in over 50 venues around Ubud, featuring a mixture of ticketed and free events, all underpinning the festivals aims of sharing through cross-cultural understanding and fostering greater awareness and understanding of Indonesian literary cultures amongst a global audience.
October 23rd 2013
Galungan, This is a major holiday lasting 10 days, during which the gods and ancestors descend to earth, and Good (Dharma) triumphs over Evil (Adharma). Galungan features sacred temple dances, and 'penjor', tall bamboo poles splendidly decorated with woven young coconut leaves, fruit and flowers, beside every house entrance. Ceremonies are held throughout the island.
November 02nd 2013
Kuningan, This takes place ten days after Galungan, bringing the holiday period to a close. On this day, a special ritual ceremony is held for Ancestral spirits.
Full Moon
Purnama', the day of a 'full moon' are special days for the Balinese. On this day extra offerings are made around the family compound, as well as some offerings placed on the ground at the entrance to the house compound.
Full Moon Dates are :
January 26th 2013
February 25th 2013
March 26th 2013
April 25th 2013
May 24th 2013
June 23rd 2013
July 22nd 2013
August 21st 2013
September 19th 2013
October 19th 2013
November 17th 2013
December 17th 2013
Groups & Seminars
For information about seminars and courses held at Gaia-Oasis, please refer to our Calender of Events, and to our open Groups & Seminars.
