Balinese Hindu Celebrates Holy Kuningan Day

Denpasar (Antara Bali) - Balinese Hindus celebrate Kuningan holy day on Saturday at the end of Galungan festival, which commemorates the victory of Dharma (goodness) against Adharma (evil).

On Kuningan day, which falls ten days after Galungan, Balinese Hindus provide offerings in the temple, in a sacred place of Hindus called merajan, and in each family's sacred locations.

After prayers at the family sacred place, the Hindus in Denpasar and surrounding areas will pray in Jagatnatha Temple in the center of the city. After that, Hindu devotees will continue their prayers in Sakenan Temple in Serangan district, located 12 kilometers away in Denpasar.

Hindus wear Bali traditional clothing, flock to Sakenan Temple. It is a shrine that once was separate from Bali island, and Hindus who prayed there before 2000 had to arrive by motor boats or catamarans.

But now the site has become part of Bali island, after a private company performed the reclamation to unify the two islands. Thus, people can now easily reach the location of the temple with a motor vehicle.

Kuningan day coincided with a large ritual (piodalan) in Pura Sakenan. The worship lasted from morning until late afternoon, taking place three day before and after Kuningan day.

The organizers and community of Serangan village supervise the queue leading to the main "mandala" (main area), so that people can pray in an orderly and solemn fashion. The organizers also coordinatesd with "pecalang" (local indigenous village security officer) to provide ample parking areas.

Sakenan Temple, one of the "Sad Kahyangan" Temples (big temple), is unique and distinctive, compared to other sacred places in Bali. Sakenan Temple includes "Persada", which is a terraced building built like a pyramid. (WDY)