Galungan is the most important ceremony of the year (210 day lunar cycle), for Balinese people. Always on a wednesday, Galungan marks the time when ancestors return to Earth, and are celebrated with ceremony, dance and feasting.
Due to the 210 day calendar, Galungan occurs in every month at some time or another, as does Nyepi, the Balinese Day of Silence.
One of the best things about Galungan for me, is that every house in Bali, will make and erect a penjor (bamboo pole, with hanging offering). Driving around Bali in the days before Galungan, you will see kids and adults, sitting by the side of the road, making their penjor. To a Balinese kid, it must be like a Christmas tree to westerners.
For tourists visiting Bali, the main thing you will notice, apart from the penjors, will be shops / restaurants are closed. Places like Cafe Moka, that need a large staff, made up of almost entirely Balinese people, from villages in different parts of the island, close for 2-3 days. In the Kuta area, many shops and restaurants will be closed. Don’t panic though, you will still be able to find food places, internet cafes and night spots open.
