The “Kidung Warga Sari” religious hymn started playing from the speakers of the great Jagatnatha temple as devotees performed ngayah (community service) before the Galungan celebration.
As devotees started praying, the temple’s management was seen asking worshippers to clean up the offerings they presented to maintain the area’s cleanliness. The Hindu temple was full Wednesday as they observed the day of victory of good over evil, Galungan.
Jagatnatha was erected in 1968 by the city and provincial administrations as a place of worship for Denpasar residents, including migrant Hindus from other parts of the island. Unlike other temples, this house of worship is not managed by a pengempon, a traditional group of custodians usually comprising members of a specific customary village or clan-based organization. It is instead funded and managed by the city administration.
What makes the temple — which is the prayer center for various celebrations — unique is its proximity to the Puputan Badung park. After seeking God’s blessings, people usually take a minute to hop over to the park to hang out.
On Wednesday after spending around 30 minutes praying at the temple, devotees flocked to the park with their families. Street vendors, waiting expectantly, sold a variety of snacks and drinks.
The vendors were given a special permit to sell at the location on the occasion of Galungan. On normal days, Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) drive them away.
They sold meatballs, satay and many other items and provided mats for buyers use while they ate.
“It’s wonderful to have lunch after praying with the family. The place is nice and cool,” said Sari, a resident of Denpasar, who sat under a big tree with five of her family members.
For those with children, they can go straight to the playground at one of the park’s corners, or get some colorful balloons in the shape of various cartoon characters sold nearby.
Prayers at the temple are performed after devotees hold prayers at their respective houses. However, some people, especially migrants, normally choose to return to their villages afterward, as Galungan is the time to meet relatives and ask one another’s forgiveness. In the villages, the devotees presented offerings and performed prayers at their family and village temples. Many also traveled a long way to pay homage to their ancestors at their respective clan temple.
Government offices, schools and private establishments, including banks and shops, were closed on Wednesday following the provincial administration’s announcement of a three-day local holiday during Galungan.
The Bali chapter of the Indonesian Parisadha Hindu Council (PHDI) said that the word Galungan is derived from an ancient Javanese language and means victory. Galungan is celebrated once every 210 days.
It’s unclear when Galungan was first observed. Gusti Agung Gede Putra, former Religious Affairs Ministry’s Hindu education director general, only said Galungan had been celebrated by Indonesian Hindus long before it was observed in the province.
According to the Purana Bali Dwipa Lontar scripture, Galungan was first celebrated in Bali on the Purnama Kapat (the fourth full moon) in year 804 of the Balinese Hindu Saka calendar, or in 882 of the Gregorian calendar.
It says that Galungan has since been celebrated in Bali. However, more than three centuries later, the celebration stopped when King Sri Ekajaya ruled. In the time Galungan was not observed, the script says that calamities kept befalling the island.
The Galungan celebration was again taken up when King Sri Jayakasunu ruled in 1126 Saka.