Festivals
Holidays & Celebrations in Bali 2011 - 2012
July 22 - 24, 2011
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.
September 23, 2011
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 5 - 9, 2011
Ubud Writers & Readers Festival ( UWRF), The 8th 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.
November 19, 2011
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.
November 23, 2011
Pagerwesi, The name literally means 'iron fence', on which day ceremonies and prayers are held for strong mental and spiritual defense.November 23-26, 2011
World Mask Festival, This event will be held on in Buleleng-North Bali, home to its own unique mask tradition of Wayang Wong centered in the village of Tejakula. The event is expected to attract 300 foreign participants representing 56 countries.January 22, 2012
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
February 1, 2012
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.
February 11, 2012
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.
March 20, 2012Melasti, 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 22, 2012
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 23, 2012
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 23 - 26, 2012
Tejakula Arts Festival, This annual festival is held at the Camplung Tree, near Gaia-Oasis. Witness sacred art forms such as the Baris, Rejang, Wayang Kulit and Wayang Wong. In addition, there is a strong “street arts” scene, including arja, gong kebyar, angklung, parwa & kekawin. You can also see painters, sculptors, wood-carvers and ornamental artists.March 28 - 1 April, 2012
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.
May 15, 2012Gaia-Oasis Birthday, Join us for our annual celebration!
Balinese New Year & Tejakula Arts Festival, 20th to 26th March 2012
For more information on Nyepi (Balinese New Year), please click here.
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.
