CALENDAR OF EVENTS - JANUARY 2013

1ST JANUARY – NEW YEAR'S DAY
Today marks the first day of the New Year 2013. It is celebrated in Indonesia as a national holiday therefore all banks, government offices and some commerce will be closed.

10TH JANUARY – HARI RAYA SIWARATRI
This Balinese Hindu celebration of Siwaratri is held on the dark moon of the seventh month based on the Balinese lunar calendar system. This holy day is devoted to the God Siwa, the destroyer. This is a night spent in meditation for the welfare of the world, in order that God Siwa will bestow a pardon for all sins.

12TH JANUARY – BALINESE BLESSING CEREMONY – HARI RAYA SARASWATI
This day is devoted to God's Manifestation as Dewi Saraswati, the beautiful Goddess of Knowledge, Art and Literature. She rules the intellectual and creative realm, and is the patron goddess of libraries and schools. Balinese Hindus believe that knowledge is an essential medium to achieve the goal of life as a human being, and so honour her. On this day no one is allowed to read or write, and offerings are made to the lontar (palm-leaf manuscripts), books, and shrines.

16TH JANUARY – BALINESE BLESSING CEREMONY - HARI RAYA PAGERWASI
The name literally means 'iron fence', on which day ceremonies and prayers are held for strong mental and spiritual defense in welcoming the Galungan holiday. It is always held a few days after Hari Raya Saraswati to empower the learning and wisdom bestowed. Bali will be very colourful and people will be coming to and from the temples for most of the day so please refrain from honking on the roads.

24TH JANUARY - ISLAMIC HOLIDAY - ISRA MI'RAJ NABI MUHAMMAD
Today is a national holiday to celebrate the Islamic Prophet Muhammad's night journey of both physical and spiritual enlightenment.

26TH JANUARY – FULL MOON - PURNAMA SASIH KEWULU
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 blessed by a priest. The Balinese themselves are then blessed by performing various rituals using holy water, incense smoke, petals and rice grains.

26TH JANUARY – BALINESE BLESSING CEREMONY - TUMPEK LANDEP
This day is devoted to the Agama Hindu God "Sanghyang Pasupati" when blessing ceremonies are conducted over heirlooms, sacred weapons and all instruments and tools made of metal (even cars & motorbikes), to bestow good energy for both day to day functioning as well as believed magical powers. This ceremony is held throughout Bali, especially at smiths, garages and workshops.