CALENDAR OF EVENTS - MARCH 2012

7TH MARCH – FULL MOON - PURNAMA KASANGA
The full moon (which has particular importance to the Balinese Hindus) falls on this day and ceremonies are held throughout the Hindu temples all across Bali. The Balinese that adhere to the Hindu Dharma religion will take offerings of food, fruit and flowers to the temple to be blesses by the priest. The Balinese themselves are then blessed by performing various rituals using holy water, incense smoke, petals and rice grains.


17TH MARCH – HARI TUMPEK KRULUT
Tumpek Krulut Day is dedicated to all musical instruments, masks and other instruments used in art performances and the numerous religious ceremonies in Bali. It is celebrated every 210 days, in the 17th week of the Balinese Pawukon cycle (a cycle consisting of 30 weeks). 

On this special day, offerings are given to pay homage to musical instruments, masks, and dance costumes. The instruments and other paraphernalia are cleaned, decorated with young coconut leaf offerings, given a special set of offerings and sprinkled with Holy water. The members of the group that use the instruments pray together and ask for blessings from the Gods.


20TH MARCH – HARI RAYA MELASTI
Melasti Ceremony is always held three days before Nyepi and is aimed at cleansing all of nature in the ocean, or at other water sources if need be. There may be traffic delays or jams, with some streets being closed off, as large groups of Balinese make their way to the beaches by foot from their respective temples. Please be patient and do not honk vehicle horns.


22ND MARCH – DARK MOON - TILEM KESANGA
The Balinese adhering to the Hindu Dharma religion will celebrate 'Tilem' in temple ceremonies, which are mostly held in every major temple and family shrines around the island of Bali. On this day Hindus make offerings to the Gods, placed on the ground at the entrance of each housing compound. The aim is to beg God's grace; so that one's dark thoughts will be illuminated by Him.


23RD MARCH – HARI-RAYA NYEPI – BALINESE NEW YEAR 1934
Nyepi is the Balinese New Year's Day according to the lunar calendar and is honored through a 'Day of Silence' of obligatory fasting, inactivity, prayer, and quiet throughout the island lasting for 24 hours. Purification offerings are made in every village on the day before to appease evil spirits, and a lively parade of 'Ogoh-Ogohs' (demon effigies) are carried throughout village streets to the sound of loud banging and lit torches to chase off the evil spirits. The noise can carry on throughout the night until morning, when silence reigns in the hope that if the spirits return to Bali, they will find it uninhabited. Restrictions are; no lighting fires, or lights after dark, no working, entertainment or pleasure, little noise from TVs and radios, and few signs of activity. No one is to go onto the streets (except the Pecelang), and the airport will also be closed. More info at www.balitourismboard.org


28TH MARCH – 1ST APRIL - THE 5TH ANNUAL BALISPIRIT FESTIVAL
Be a part of something that will change our world. The BaliSpirit Festival is a spiritually charged event that celebrates yoga, dance and music and the synergy of global cultural collaboration through the arts. The Fifth Festival will take place in Ubud from March 28th 2012. Early Bird Tickets are available now. Held over 5 transformational and fun-filled days, this annual celebration brings to Bali a wealth of talented and respected creative masters from around the world, merging the indigenous and rich cultures of Indonesia in the spirit of learning, collaboration and the celebration of creative and spiritual diversity.

Source: Baliplus.com