CALENDAR OF EVENTS - MAY 2010

17th May – Blas Rivera at Ku De Ta
Blas Rivera, Argentinean composer and saxophonist of tango and world music renown, is playing live at this amazing beachfront venue from 8pm onwards. Dinner reservations will be an absolute must for this one off event.

(11th) 12th (13th) May – Hari Raya Galungan
Galungan is a Balinese holiday that occurs every 210 days and lasts for 10 days. Kuningan is the last day of the holiday (see below). Galungan means ‘When the Dharma is winning’ – Dharma being good over evil. During this holiday the Balinese Gods visit the earth and leave on Kuningan. During the Galungan period the deified ancestors of the family descend to their former homes to be entertained by those on earth.

13th May - Ascension Day
As well as being the Balinese Hindu Holiday of Galungan today is also a religious national holiday; therefore banks and government buildings will be closed, as may be some commerce.

22nd May – Hari Raya Kuningan
This day is always celebrated 10 days after Galungan and marks the end of the festivities, sending deified ancestors back to the heavens. There will be many colourful temple ceremonies, with the Balinese suitably attired coming to and fro, according plenty of photo opportunities. Please be patient when on the roads.

27th May – Full Moon Sasih Sadha
The full moon 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. It is the essence of theses offerings that will be enjoyed by the deities. The Balinese themselves are then blessed by performing various rituals using holy water, incense smoke, petals and rice grains.

28th May – Waisak Day
Waisak 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.