Galungan celebration

A special célébration time began already in Bali, culminating with Galungan Day, this Wednesday, December 17th.
Galungan marks the beginning of the most important recurring cérémonies according to the ’210 day Balinese Pawukon Calendar’. The festival symbolizes the victory of good (Dharma)over evil (Adharma) and encourages the Balinese to show their gratitude to the Creator.
The spirits of deceased relatives who have been cremated return to visit their former homes, and the current inhabitants have a responsability to be hospitable through prayers and offerings.
6 days before is the day to purify, 3 and 2 days before  are dedicated to méditation, then the day before people erect the ‘penjor’ in front of each house.
Offerings and praying are made to God and holy ancestral spirits who come down to earth. The Balinese usually return to their family hometowns and villages to reunite with their families and elders.
Here on the picture the colorful holy decoration used for the celebration of Galungan: they are made of palm tree leaves and orn the streets in the villages as well as the houses.