THE UNIQUENESS OF KUNIGAN DAY

Balinese celebrated the first Kuningan in 2021 on Saturday, April 24th. In this holy Kuningan Day it is said that Ida Sang Hyang Widhi (God) comes to earth to give his blessing to humans. It is technically the last day of the Galungan celebration. The Balinese also believe that Kuningan is the day when their ancestors return to heaven after visiting the earth during Galungan celebration. There are some typical decorations and offerings on this occasion such as nasi kuning or yellow rice, endongan, tamyang, and kolem. The offerings include yellowed rice (Kuningan is derived from the word kuning which means yellow) which is placed in a small “bowl” made of coconut leaves named “selanggi”. On Kuningan day you can see tamiang kolem, and endongan decorations hanging outside homes and temples. Tamiang means – because formed as a round – shield and represents protection, defense, and the cycle of the globe. It functions as a reminder to humans of karma and that they should protect themselves from bad behavior. Kolem as a symbol of resting place for Gods and ancestors ’spirits. Endongan means bag of provisions. It is made of coconut leaves and shaped like a bag or a pocket. The Balinese put different things like seeds, fruits, tuber inside the endongan. It also a symbol of food supply for the journey of the ancestors from earth to heaven. From a spiritual view, endongan represents the essential provisions that every human should carry-knowledge and homage. On the picture is Endongan made of young coconut leaves.