Indonesia is predominantly a Muslim country but Bali is Hindu. Festivals are an important feature of Balinese life. In general Temple festivals occur regularly on fixed dates according to the Balinese Calendar. That said, it is important to know that the Balinese calendar is only 210 days and as such the dates of these festivals rotate throughout the Roman calendar year. As well there are annual cycle and every six month celebrations of holidays, life-cycle ceremonies of a Balinese from the time a child is conceived inside the mother’s womb and continuing in stages up until the most important of the Balinese rituals - cremation after death.

One basic principle of Hindu belief is that the universe is structured - things do not happen randomly and it is essential that a balance must be maintained between order and disorder. Spirits are everywhere and ultimately control nature and as such these spirits must be worshipped regularly in order to maintain the balance. Rituals and festivals are the way the Balinese maintain this order. These festivals have great meaning and are the part of the essence of Balinese culture.

There are other festivals as well, instituted by the government or other organizations to maintain and preserve certain cultural aspects of Balinese life. The best example of this is the Bali Art Festival - held every year from mid-June through mid-July. If you are planning to visit Bali at about this time it is worth the extra effort to be in Bali on opening day. Never will you have an better opportunity to see Bali's glorious culture. Even if you are in Singapore or other part of the region it is well worth the trip. Below is a brief overview of some of Bali's more important holidays.

During certain times of the year, festivals such as Ramadan will mean that some aspects of your holiday need to be adjusted, but this also means you'll be fortunate enough to witness activities which only occur during these times. In Bali, Nyepi Day is the "day of quiet" when everything closes, transport is restricted, and you are required to stay within your hotel compound. It is impossible to provide transfers on this day so you should avoid planning to arrive, depart or move hotels on this day.

Galungan
This is the most important Balinese holiday and symbolizes the victory of virtue (Dharma) over Evil (Adharma). The holiday is characterized by putting "Penjor" (tall Bamboo poles laboriously decorated with woven coconut leaves, cakes and flowers), on the right side of every house entrance. It is important for the Balinese to visit all their family temples on this day which sometimes requires a lot of driving around.

There will be temple celebrations at Pura Ratu Bagus Subandar, Besakih Complex, Karangasem; Pura Dukuh Sakti, Kediri and Tabanan.

Kuningan
This holiday takes place ten days after Galungan, bringing the Balinese New Year holiday period to a close. Ceremonies are held for ancestral spirits.

Temple celebrations will occur at Pura Ulun Kulkul, Besakih Complex, Karangasem; Pura Taman Pule Mas, Gianyar; Pura Sada, Kapal, Mengwi, Badung; Pura Bukit Jati, Bangli; Pura Pucak Gede, Luwus, Baturiti, Tabanan; Pura Pasek Gelgel, Muncan, Kapal, Badung; Pura Dalem Agung Sri Nararya Kresna Kepakisan, Dukuh Gelgel, Klungkung.

Firstly, the people will make the skeleton of the demon from bamboo, then covered it by papier-mache and paint it. They add nails to each finger while the cork for the face is carved in a likeness of one of the demons. After that, they set the hair, put a dress round it's body and complete its decoration. Some of the Ogoh-Ogoh also wear a crown on their head. The people also prepare stretcher to carry the Ogoh-Ogoh around the village.

Ogoh-Ogoh is prepared by a group of men, especially the young, in the "Bale Banjar". The Bale Banjar is a meeting hall/ place where the members of Banjar (a community extension of the house and family) usually gather to discuss the village's needs. The fuction of Bale Banjar is as a place to hold meetings among the village community and host activities.

There are 1376 villages, each village has 5-11 Banjars. If we assume there are 5 Banjars in one village and each Banjar has one Ogoh-Ogoh, that means there will be 6,880 Ogoh-Ogoh on the whole island. However, in some Banjars they build up to 3 Ogoh-Ogoh each.

It costs the Banjar approx. 3-6 million Rupiah to make an Ogoh-Ogoh. The finance comes from the Banjar community businesses within the village. A family may contribute Rp. 10.000 - Rp. 100.000 each. It takes 2-4 months to finish an Ogoh-Ogoh. Everynight, from 7.00PM-11.00PM, all the young men will come to the Banjar to build their Ogoh-Ogoh. In some villages, there is an Ogoh-Ogoh competition.

Saraswati
The day devoted to Sanghyang Aji Saraswati, Goddes symbolizing knowledges and arts and when blessing ceremony is given to holy scriptures, literatures of sciences and arts held at every family compound.

Temple celebrations at Pura Pemaksan Banyuning, Buleleng; Pura Taman Alit, Banyuasri II, Buleleng.

Coma Ribek
A thanksgiving to Almighty God (Ida Sanghyang Widhi), presented in offerings to Dewi Sri, Goddes of Rice and other sources of living, held at every family compound, along will full-moon ceremony.

Pagerwesi
The name literally means iron fence - the day devoted to Sanghyang Pramesti Guru, Lord of the Universe, when Hindu Followers pray for strong mental defense in welcoming Galungan Holiday, held at every compound and temple throughout Bali.

Temple celebrations at Pura Kehen, Downtown of Bangli; Pura Laban Sindujiwa, Kedewatan, Ubud; Pura Siwa/Pasek Tohjiwa, Penebel, Tabanan; Pura Padang Sakti Tangtu, Kesiman, Denpasar; Pura Masceti Selasih, Sanding Tampaksiring, Gianyar.

Tumpek Landep
The day devoted to Sanghyang Pasupati, Lord of all heirlooms, weapons and tools made of metal for proper function and magical power, held at every family compound, smith's workshop and temple.

Temple celebrations at Pura Ida Ratu Pande, Besakih Complex, Karangasem; Pura Kertha Banyuning, Buleleng; Pura Gunung Beratan, Buleleng; Pura Arya Bang Pinatih, Peguyangan, Buleleng; Pura Taman, Bubunan, Buleleng; Pura Panti Pasek Abian Baru, Kendran, Buleleng; Pura Pasek Gelgel, Pedungan, Badung; Pura Pasek Tangkas, Kediri, Tabanan; Pura Toya Katipat, Wanegiri, Buleleng.