Selikur Galungan, a Good Day for Wedding Day

A Hindu wedding ceremony is held lead by a priest

Selikur Galungan or 21 days before the Galungan feast day is trusted by the Hindu community in Bali as a good day for a wedding. It has become an idiom where a young couple in Bali that has not got married yet will be tempted with the expression ‘Do not go beyond the 21 days ahead of the Galungan.” Even, the Selikur Galungan is immortalized in a Balinese pop song.

Prof. Dr. I Made Titib, Ph.D., Rector of the Hindu Dharma Institute (IHDN) Denpasar, stated that Selikur Galungan was indeed a quite good day for a wedding. It contained was penganten coming every 210 days. A week before Galungan was also believed as the descent of Bhatara or deity, in his manifestation as maharishi (Lord Shiva) who could guide and give happiness, so that day contained a great happiness.

He told that Selikur Galungan falling on January 11, 2012 was not a good day for a wedding. Even, many couples chose a few days after Selikur Galungan. “Probably, it was based on the simple grounds, namely the couple can celebrate the Galungan feast day happily,” he said.

Indeed, explained Prof. Titib, on the Galungan the newly-weds looked so happy. They got jerimpen oblations from other residents. All residents donated jerimpen as an expression of exuberant joy to take the new brides into the village membership. Even, in some areas of Gianyar, the newly-wed was characterized by high penjor decorated with long sampian mounted in front of the entrance into the house compound. “The long and large size sampian indicates if the house has a new bride and is ready to become the new resident of the village,” he said.

According to him, there was also opinion saying if Galungan as a registration time to become a new member of the customary community. After that, they would be imposed with regular obligations as other residents did. “More uniquely, the new brides are examined to say prayers together with family and wife in the family temple, village trinity temple and Kahyangan Jagat Temple,” he explained.

It is different from the period of time known as Umanis Kuningan to Buda Wage Wuku Pahang called pegat uwakan day (25 days) or called uncal balung. During this period, the Hindu community in Bali would not perform wedding ceremonies, and neither would any ceremony. “It resembles to a guidance not to carry out any ceremony on the day. Or it is something like a break,” he concluded. (BTN/bud)

Plecing Gonda: A Fresh and Luscious Country Style Vegetable

Plecing Gonda: A Fresh and Luscious
Country Style Vegetable

Plecing Gonda is one of the typical vegetable servings owned by Balinese society. This vegetable is very close to the peasant life in rural areas. Aside from being easy to get the ingredient, the making is also easy. Simply prepare the seasoning comprising the garlic, chili, large chili, tomato, shrimp paste, lime and salt to taste, you will get a delicious Plecing Gonda vegetable.  

Process of the making is not too complicated. Ingredient of gonda stalk should be boiled until cooked, or to taste. Then, all seasoning ingredients are cleaned and finely ground on stone mortar or the like. Stir fry the seasoning, except for the lime. Well, mix the boiled gonda with the seasoning prepared. To give a typical flavor in the serving, do not forget to give grated lime.

Gonda plant is closely related to the farmer’s life in Bali. As a matter of fact, it grows as weeds, but farmers in Bali then take advantage of it as a daily vegetable. Gonda is planted among the paddy plants so it does not require a large area. After twenty to twenty-five days old, it is ready to harvest. This green plant does not need severe maintenance by spraying it with chemicals. By doing so, it will be free from insecticide and safe to consume.

Farmers who have completed their work in rice field will usually come home with some bunches of gonda stalk. It is then processed as above, then enjoyed together with family in the evening cheerfully. One of the famer in Jembrana Regency, Ketut Sami, said that the vegetable is relatively easy to be developed. It doesn’t need special treatment and it can be marketed anywhere such as traditional market or supermarket.

Sami explained that the entire field is planted with gonda. “We only need 15 days to harvest the plant and the process of planting it also doesn’t need much work. Gonda is also very suitable for the rainy season and before we could plant rice,” he added. He said that the water which is available during the rainy season made it easier to plant gonda. He also explained that the marketing of the product is very easy because the vegetable is demanded by the customers.  

The food is well known in Tabanan Regency. Even many vegetables available in the area, but gonad still one of the favorite dish in the regency. The Gonda produce by the farmer in Tabanan has special characteristic compare to the other area. The gonda in Tabanan is tenderer so it doesn’t need many spices. Gonda is not only suitable for common rice but also can accompany other dishes such as fish or chicken. Gonda lover said that they fond of the vegetables because it can be made into many kind of foods. It is delicious and filled with nutrition.

Holidays in Bali feels incomplete if not accompanied by a culinary tour, tourists could try different types of foods that are only available in Bali. Bali is not only unique in natural beauty, art, culture and hospitality, but the Balinese also has typical food is on this island, from luxury to simple, from international cuisine to traditional Balinese cuisine. Bali has many unique dishes that could become the attraction for tourists who come to the island. It could become an alternative for the tourists who are looking for different side of Bali.

If the government could promote the dishes properly, it could give good impact on the development of tourism in Bali. The government could develop culinary tourism where it is promoting the food or event restaurants throughout the island. (BTN/015)

Chinese New Year: Celebration in Lin Gwan Kiong Temple Accompanied by Angklung

Pecalang stood guard in front of the 

Ling Gwan Kiong temple when Chinese people from 

various regions went home to the town of Singaraja

to celebrate the Chinese New Year 2563 on Monday (Jan 23).

Celebration of Chinese New Year in a number of locations in Buleleng Subdistrict on Monday (Jan 23) took place solemnly. For example, in the Ling Gwan Kiong Temple, Kampung Tinggi, Chinese residents living in Buleleng and outside the region came to perform worship from early morning until the evening.

Interestingly, in this Chinese New Year celebration, a number of pecalang officers or customary security taskforce from customary villages were involved in the safeguarding so that prayers could run safely and smoothly. In addition, a different atmosphere was also visible in the Ling Gwan Kiong temple where the worship in the sanctum was also accompanied by angklung gamelan music commonly used by the Hindus in religious ceremonies in Bali.

Ling Gwan Kiong Temple is indeed a great temple in the town of Singaraja. An attendant of the temple, Hong, said that every celebration of Chinese New Year the worship was centered in the Ling Gwan Kiong temple. To add the solemnity in the celebration of Chinese New Year as well as to show off religious tolerance, the ritual committee of the temple presented the angklung gamelan troupe so the atmosphere of celebration in Buleleng was really different from elsewhere.

Similarly, the involvement of pecalang officers from Kampung Baru gave different nuance. Other than helping safeguard, their presence also made the celebration of Chinese New Year have an atmosphere of tolerance.

Earlier, on Sunday night (Jan 22), in the area of ​​Ling Gwan Kiong temple was also staged the lively Lion Dance. The performance was quite stunning and many people thronged the temple to see the typical attraction of Chinese art. Precisely at 00:00 p.m. Local Time, the Chinese descendants organized a joint worship and ignition of fireworks as the procession of releasing the year 2562 and welcoming the New Year 2563, known as the Year of the Water Dragon.