Galungan celebrates the victory of dharma (virtue) over adharma (vice). It is the time for the spirits of deceased relatives to return to their former homes. Their living relatives are obliged to prepare the best offerings, meals and decorations to please the visiting ancestral spirits. Galungan and Kuningan are celebrated every 210 days, according to the Balinese lunar calendar. Galungan will fall
next Wednesday on Oct. 23, while Kuningan will be observed ten days later on Nov. 2.
When it comes to preparing offerings and decorating houses and public places for religious celebrations, the Balinese know no price or economic boundary. Simplicity and modesty will be out of their dictionary. Despite the rocketing price of staple foods, fruits and vegetables, all necessary in their offerings, the local people will find a way to get the goods, no matter what. Sugihan Jawa marks the beginning of the Galungan celebrations. The ritual aims to cleanse the earth (bhuana agung) and was held on Wrhaspati Wage Wuku, six days before Galungan. During the ritual, families cleaned up ceremonial utensils, places of worship and the houses to be used for Galungan prayer and celebration. On Friday, another ritual, Sugihan Bali, will be performed all over the island. Sugihan Bali is intended as purification of one’s self before performing any ritual.
Back in real life, the price of agricultural commodities is increasing sharply. Fruit prices, especially bananas, oranges and apples, are soaring uncontrollably. Rice, flour, sugar, brown sugar, beans and green beans are all being sold at very high prices in traditional markets. Worst of all, Bali has to procure most of these commodities from Java and the neighboring islands of Lombok, Sumbawa and Sulawesi. Transportation costs have contributed to the rising price of these staple foods.