Bunut Bolong - Negara regency

Bunut Bolong located in Manggisari Village, Subdistrict of Pekutatan, Jembrana Regency. Bunut bolong located around 86 km from Denpasar and able to reach by car or motorcycle as well.

Bunut Bolong is Bunut tree that has a hole on the body, and it's located right on the road. Bunut Bolong also have a strong magical aura that believed by all people who live near the tree area. On the south side of the tree there was a temple ( Pujangga Sakti Temple ). On the west side of Bunut Bolong located a great surrounding forest that also would nice to see. From Bunut Bolong we also able to view clover plantation along the way.

Bunut bolong as one of tourism destination was still located in a very natural condition. There is no parking area, toilet, inn restaurant and souvenir shop. Fresh air and quiet condition of Bunut Bolong will make all tourist who visit it feel relax and peaceful. For this time, Bunut bolong commonly visited by domectic tourist, but foreign tourist also visit this time sometime but not as much as domestic tourist.

Brahmavihara-Arama Buleleng regency

Brahmavihara-Arama or commonly known as Wihara Buddha Banjar is the biggest Buddhist Vihara in Bali. Located in Banjar Tegeha Village, subdistrict of Banjar, Buleleng Regency. It's about 22km west of Singaraja City, and about 11 km from Lovina Beach. This Vihara located in a quit environment will make anyone who visit it feel calm and relax, besides from this Vihara also able to see Lovina beach directly make this place famous for domestic and even foreign tourist.

This vihara consist of five important complex which is
1. Uposatha Graha. Located on the top in the west side, a room with a very quiet condition. On the wall that surrounding the room carved some of relief about Buddha's birthday. In the center of the room there is a statue of Buddha.
2. Dharmasala. A kind of studying room that located on the east.
3. Stupa. A building shaped like a bid bells located in the North West, on the wall also carved lot of great relief.
4. Bodi Tree. On the South West located a big tree that called Bodi Tree, around the tree there also a lot of great relief that would nice to see.
5. Kuti. This place is used for biku's to do some practicing and also studying lot of thing about religion.

Pagerwesi - Bali Sacred Day

Pagerwesi is one of Bali sacred day that related to Saraswati. Pagerwesi held on wednesday, four days after Saraswati. Pagerwesi still related with Saraswati because Pagerwesi is one of procession of saraswati.

The procession is like this :
Saturday (Saniscara Umanis Watugunung) - Saraswati
Sunday (Redite Paing Sinta) - Banyu Pinaruh
Monday (Soma Pon Sinta) - Soma Ribek
Tuesday (Anggara Wage Sinta) - Sabuh mas
Wednesday (Buda Kliwon Sinta) - Pagerwesi

During pagerwesi, Balinese people held Tapa Brata (Semadhi) to refresh and calming their mind, at this day also will held a ritual procession with pray at nearest temple. If able Balinese people will held the pray at big temple like Besakih or Jagatnata, but if they was unable because must work or do some other job, the pray can held on the nght on their own home temple. Some people meaning this day by it's name Pagerwesi (Pager = gate, Wesi = iron), known as the day to protect ourself from all negative element, by semadhi and pray to the god to refresh the mind.

Saraswati - Bali Sacred Day

Saraswati is a goddess in Hindus mythology that appear like a very beautiful woman, She is a symbolize of knowledge. Saraswati usually held on Saturday (Wuku Watugunung) and held every 210 days. The most people who celebrate this sacred day are student and teacher, also will be held special ceremony in every school and college in Bali.

Dewi Saraswati imagined by a very beautiful woman, that has four arms. Each arm held a Genitri, Lontar, Wina (musical instrument), and lotus. Near her usually appear two birds which is Swan and Peacock. All tools that need for study like books, pencils, pens and other will gathered in one place and purified with a kind of offerings like canang, dupa, and some of holy waters.

After the purifying ritual end, Balinese people usually held a ritual to clear their mind, by Tapa-brata, or semadhi, and read some of Balinese Lontars. One day after Saraswati held a ritual called Banyu Pinaruh. At this time Balinese people goes to nearest sea to purify their soul. But for the one who far away from sea can purify their soul in their own home, using a kind of holy water and then take a bath in nearest river or well. After that they will eat yellow rice, and egg along with a kind of mantra.

Bali Sacred Day on 2008

Some people that come to my blog was search about Bali Sacred Day in 2008. But unfortunately they will not found it until I publish this post. OK here we go, this is the list of most important Bali Sacred Day at 2008.

January
January 6th, 2008 - Siwaratri / Ciwaratri
January 22th, 2008 - Penampahan Galungan
January 23th, 2008 - Galungan
January 24th, 2008 - Manis Galungan
January 28th, 2008 - Pemacekan Agung

February
February 2nd, 2008 - Kuningan
February 12th, 2008 - Celebration at Goa Lawah and Andakasa Temple

March
March 6th, 2008 - Ngerupuk (Ogoh-Ogoh festival)
March 7th, 2008 - Nyepi
March 9th, 2008 - Ngembak Geni

April and May seems didn't have special sacred day.

June
June 7th, 2008 - Saraswati
June 11th, 2008 - Pagerwesi

July seem didn't have special sacred day.

August
August 19th, 2008 - Penampahan Galungan
August 20th, 2008 - Galungan (the second Galungan of the year)
August 21st, 2008 - Manis Galungan
August 25th, 2008 - Pemacekan Agung
August 30th, 2008 - Kuningan

September October November and December seems didn't have special sacred day as well.

But, altough some of month didn't have a special sacred day, but a celebration in certain temple was different. If I mentioned it one by one that will not enough space. Actually every week there are certain temple that celebrate it's celebration. Hope this information help for tourist who will visit Bali at some sacred day to see the Balinese true Culture.

Siwaratri / Ciwaratri - Bali Sacred Day

Siwaratri is a sacred day that always held every year, every night one day before the Seventh deadmoon on Caka year. Balinese people believed this night is the darkest night on the year in Bali, and God as Siva will do a meditation at this night. Balinese people believed if they do the same as Siva did, all their trespass will be forgiven.

There are certain thing that should do in Siwaratri, and there are three kind of placement that Balinese people will do to celebrate this sacred day.

1. Utama (High level)

At this level Balinese people will do three important things from the Siwaratri Ritual

1). Monabrata (didn't talk all the day)
2). Upawasa (didn't eat and drink)
4). Jagra (didn't sleep)
2. Madya (Middle level)

At this level Belinese people only do two important things of three from Siwaratri Ritual

1). Upawasa (didn't drink and eat)
2). Jagra (didn't sleep)
3. Nista (Lower level)

At this level Balinese people do only one important thing of the three from Siwaratri Ritual

1). Jagra (didn't sleep)

Balinese people free to choose which level they will be able to do. But now days very rare Balinese people that able to do the High Level most of them will only do the Lower Level. But that isn't a problem if they do it seriously. No matter which level they choose the meaning is still the same. Which is to purify their soul and beg a forgiveness for their trespass and wrong act for the whole year.

Galungan - Bali Sacred Days

Galungan is one of most holiest sacred Day in Bali. Galungan held every 210 days in Wednesday on Wuku Dungulan. Galungan held to celebrate the symbolize when Dharma (Good) win against Adharma (evil). There are some procession to reach Galungan start from Sugihan Jawa until Manis galungan itself.

Galungan Procession :
1. Sugihan Jawa held at thursday, 6 days before Galungan, at this day held a ceremony to purify the Bhuana Agung (world-environtment).
2. Sugihan Bali held at Friday, 5 Days before Galungan, at this day held a ceremony to purify Bhuana Alit (human body and soul).
3. Penyajaan held at Monday, 2 days before Galungan, at this day all the things that needed for galungan will be prepared, like traditional cake, and some fruit to use at Galungan.
4. Penampahan Galungan held at Tuesday, 1 day before Galungan, at this day balinese people will make some of animal, like Chickens, ducks, pigs and even cows. Depend on the wish and economic ability. At this time Balinese people also start to build a penjor that symbolize an offering to the God because give a good live to Balinese people. Penjor will consist of Bamboo, traditional cakes, fruits, leaves, and two coconut in the middle of the Penjor.
5. Galungan is the main process of the holy day. At this time Balinese people will go to nearest temple and pray in there. Also visit the other temple as long as they can.
6. Manis Galungan held 1 day after Galungan, which is the last procession of this Sacred days. Usually all companies and office will get their holiday within 3 days start from Penampahan galungan until Manis Galungan.

Ngerupuk (Ogoh-Ogoh), Nyepi, and Ngembak Geni Sacred day

Ngerupuk

Ngerupuk held one day before Nyepi, at that time there will be a lot of Ogoh ogoh around all street in Bali. After walking around for some time the Ogoh ogoh will burned in the nearest cemetary. The ogoh-ogoh symbolize bad element that must be destroyed and bring back the good element to the environment. Besides at the street, the celebration also held in every Hindusm house in Bali. The celebration including make a fire in front of every house and make a noises in house, that believed will send out all evil element in the house.


Nyepi
Nyepi always held every year in Bali, usually on March. Nyepi held to celebrate the Çaka New Year. If you visit Bali during Nyepi, you will be able to go outside hotels and all road will be blocked. All the people in Bali will stay on their own home without go anywhere. The procession itself usually start at 6 o'clock in the morning and end 6 o'clock at the next day. There are four thing that Balinese people will do during Nyepi.
1. Not ignite any kind of fire ( That mean balinese People will not eat all day )
2. Not going anywhere (All road willbe blocked and all Balinese People will only stay at their house )
3. Not Working (All Balinese people didn't allowed to do their casual activity )
4. Not Having Fun (Even watch TV and light a lamp was not allowed)
But now days, very rare Balinese people will do all of the procession.


Ngembak Geni
Ngembak Geni celebrate a day after Nyepi. At this day Balinese people begin to do their activity. working, cook and other casual activity will begin at this day. This symbolize Balinese start all the new thing on the 2nd day of the Çaka New Year.