CALENDAR OF EVENTS - MAY 2013

9TH MAY - ASCENSION DAY
Banks, government buildings and some commerce will be closed on this national holiday on the 40th day after Easter commemorating the ascent of Jesus as witnessed by his disciples.

9TH MAY - DARK MOON - TILEM SASIH JIYESTHA
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.


11TH MAY - HINDU BLESSING CEREMONY - 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.

24TH MAY - FULL MOON - PURNAMA SASIH SADHA
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.

25TH MAY - WESAK DAY - HARI RAYA WAISAK
Wesak Day is celebrated throughout the world to commemorate and honor the birthday of Lord Buddha, the Enlightened One. It is the most auspicious day in the Buddhist calendar, marking the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha and is celebrated as a national holiday throughout Indonesia. Therefore all banks and government offices will be closed on this day, as may some shops and other forms of commerce.

Source: Baliplus.com