Galungan - Victory of Dharma
I had the great honor to travel to Indonesia for three weeks this summer. Besides the spectacular landscapes in Bali, Komodo and Java, I also wanted to learn more about the culture and the people. Especially Bali, the island of the gods, holds many stories and myths.
During my stay there was Galungan, a Balinese holiday celebrating the victory of dharma (good) over adharma (evil). It marks the beginning of the most important recurring religious ceremonies and the time when the ancestral spirits visit the Earth.
The Barong dance featured battle between Barong and Rangda to represent the eternal battle between good and evil. Barong is the king of the spirits, leader of the hosts of good, and enemy of Rangda, the demon queen and mother of all spirit guarders in the mythological traditions of Bali.
It is an important part of the magic of Bali to understand that everything flows as one here – the divine, humankind and nature – every individual is in one way or another contributing to the overall energy that transmits throughout the island.
Every household offers their reverence and hospitality through offerings and prayer. A so-called ‘penjor’ – a curved bamboo pole decorated with offerings made from coconut and palm leaves and flowers – arch the roads serving as enchanting reminders of its ancient past.
The Barong dance featured battle between Barong and Rangda to represent the eternal battle between good and evil. Barong is the king of the spirits, leader of the hosts of good, and enemy of Rangda, the demon queen and mother of all spirit guarders in the mythological traditions of Bali.
It is an important part of the magic of Bali to understand that everything flows as one here – the divine, humankind and nature – every individual is in one way or another contributing to the overall energy that transmits throughout the island.
Every household offers their reverence and hospitality through offerings and prayer. A so-called ‘penjor’ – a curved bamboo pole decorated with offerings made from coconut and palm leaves and flowers – arch the roads serving as enchanting reminders of its ancient past.
