HARI RAYA PENAMPAHAN GALUNGAN

During the day of Penampahan Galungan animals are sacrificed (in particular pigs and chickens) as special offerings which are meant to get rid of negativity in both the bhuana agung (the environment of the individual human being) and the bhuana alit (the inner world of the individual human being); the meat is afterwards prepared and cooked for traditional Balinese dishes such as lawar, babi guling, and satay.

Especially the Balinese children are looking forward to Penampahan Galungan as it is a typical family party day with lots of delicious dishes. The adults however are extremely busy during this day with the final preparations of the Galungan offerings.

At Penampahan Galungan the Kala-tiganing Galungan or Sang Kala Tiga in the shape of Sang Bhuta Amangkurat descends for the third and last time to earth to tempt mankind to adharma.

Ethymology

Penampahan is derived from the Balinese word tampah which means '(to) kill, slaughter'.

Spiritual symbolism of Penampahan Galungan

The killing of animals in this respect is symbolic for killing 'the animal inside yourself' - the victory of the higher self over the ego in their struggle for control of the inner power of the individual; implicity this symbolizes the victory of dharma over adharma.

Ceremonies of Penampahan Galungan

The physical and spiritual cleansing of the bhuana alit and the bhuana agung is achieved with a special Bhuta Yadnya ceremony (Mabyakala) for the family members and by presenting segehan offerings to Sang Bhuta Galungan in order to protect the buildings, yards, weapons, working tools, as well as the family members.

The Mabyakala ceremony has to be performed in the afternoon when the sun sets. This ceremony is either privately performed at the family temple of the house compound, or together with other families at the Bale Banjar of the village quarter.

Penampahan Galungan offerings

Each household presents offerings to Sang Bhuta Galungan,

• before the sanggah/pemerajan shrine of the house temple
• at the house itself
• at the treshold of the entrance gate of the house compound

These offerings consist of three sets of,

• Segehan (segehan kepel)
• Tetabuhan (tuak, arak, brem, water)

Each segehan offering contains,

• 5 portions of white rice, supplemented with olahan, roasted pork meat, and 5 canang genten
• 9 portions of red rice, supplemented with olahan, roasted pork meat, and 5 canang genten
• 4 portions of black rice, supplemented with olahan, roasted pork meat, and 5 canang genten

At the Bale Banjar of each village quarter similar segehan offerings are presented, with an additional segehan agung or caru offering (contains a roasted brumbun chicken).

Penjor

In the afternoon of Penampahan Galungan people install the penjor in front of their house compounds - tall, decorated bamboo poles that are curved at the top. These penjor are a type of offering with which people express their gratitude for the prosperity of the earth that is bestowed on them.

The bow of the penjor symbolizes the holy mount Agung, the tall bamboo the rivers that run down from the mountains to the sea, and the decorations of fruits and plants are symbolic for the crops that can grow where the river (symbol for water) passes the farm lands on its way to the sea.

Celebration date of Penampahan Galungan

Penampahan Galungan takes place the day before Galungan Day, at the Tuesday of the 11th week of the Balinese Pawukon calendar, Dungulan.

You may consult the ceremony calendar for this year's specific Penampahan Galungan date.