Penjor Enlivens Galungan and Kuningan

KOMPAS/COKORDA YUDISTIRA

Penjor is synonymous with Hindu holidays in Bali, as well as in welcoming Galungan and Kuningan holidays. Buyers choose bamboo sold by penjor material traders on Jalan Gunung Sanghyang, between Denpasar City and Badung Regency, on Sunday (13/9/2020).

The face of Bali has changed since Sunday (13/9/2020). Penjor, tall, curved bamboo poles decorated with coconut leaves with offerings at their base, adorn the roadside in Bali, including in the city of Denpasar.

Penjor characterizes the arrival of Hindu feasts, including Galungan, which means the celebration of the victory of dharma (virtues) over adharma (evil). Hindus undergo a series of Galungan and Kuningan starting Thursday (10/9) and will last until mid-October.

"The main thing is to always be optimistic and think positively," said Komang Edi, 36, a resident of Dauh Puri Kaja village, North Denpasar district, Denpasar city, Monday (14/9).

Edi brought a set of penjor materials and decorations, including kolong-kolong, gantung-gantungan, sampian, and ambu (palm leaves). To buy penjor materials, he spent around Rp 150,000. "As I have bamboo so I don\'t buy it anymore," said Edi when met in front of his house, Jalan Kartini, Denpasar city.

The main ingredient of penjor is 7-meter-long curved bamboo.

The presence of penjor is associated with the celebration of Galungan and Kuningan, a series of Hindu holidays that are commemorated every 210 days or every six months of the Balinese calendar (or seven months of the Gregorian calendar). The main ingredient of penjor is 7-meter-long curved bamboo.

The bamboo is decorated with a series of young coconut leaves and other greenery. The penjor stems are also tied with pala bungkah (tubers), pala gantung (fruits), palawija (rice or corn), and snacks. About 1.5 meters from the base of the penjor, a semicircular sanggah penjor is installed.

Approaching the curved edge of the penjor, a white flag is tied with the Omkara script which means God. Overall, penjor is a symbol of prosperity as well as a symbol of gratitude to Ida Sanghyang Widhi Wasa, God Almighty.

"We also hope that the Covid-19 pandemic will soon pass," said Made Yuliantara, 52, a resident of Padangsambian village, West Denpasar district, after installing a penjor in front of his house on Jalan Gunung Agung, Denpasar city.

KOMPAS/COKORDA YUDISTIRA

Grup Astra Bali yang terdiri dari 15 anak perusahaan PT Astra International Tbk di Bali, di antaranya, The Astra Bali Group, which consists of 15 subsidiaries of PT Astra International Tbk in Bali, including Astra Daihatsu, Astra Isuzu, Honda Sales Operation, Astra Insurance, Mobil88, AstraGraphia, and Auto2000, held a Cheap Market in Denpasar City, Saturday (1 / 2/2020).

A Hindu priest and lecturer, Ida Pandita Mpu Jaya Acharya Nanda, said Galungan is interpreted as a celebration of the victory of dharma against adharma. This is a reflection of human beings, namely, victory over ego, victory over doubt, and victory over lust. In a situation facing the pandemic, according to Pandita Acharya Nanda, Galungan becomes a moment of mulat sarira or introspection, self-awareness and raising hope.

Galungan is celebrated every Kliwon Dungulan Wednesday, coupled with a Kuningan celebration every Kliwon Kuningan Saturday. This year, Galungan is celebrated on Wednesday (16/9), while Kuningan is on Saturday (26/9). The series of holidays in September began on Thursday (10/9), initiated with Sugihan

Jawa, namely a symbol of cleansing the universe, then continued with Sugihan Bali or self-purification, Friday (11/9).

The entire series of Galungan and Kuningan holidays ends on Kliwon Pahang Wednesday or Buda Kliwon Pegatuwakan on 21 October 2020.

Bazaar

Welcoming the Galungan and Kuningan holidays, the Denpasar City Government facilitated a two-day bazaar in the Graha Sewaka Dharma Lumintang area starting Tuesday (8/9). A total of 20 outlets

were provided, including for micro, small and medium enterprises as well as small and medium industries. Products sold included fruits, coconut leaves, Balinese snacks, various foods, and local fashion and clothing products.

KOMPAS/COKORDA YUDISTIRA

Penjor dapat diidentikkan dengan hari raya Hindu di Bali, begitu pula dalam menyambut Hari Raya Galungan dan Kuningan. Suasana di sekitar Jalan Hayam Wuruk, Kecamatan Denpasar Timur, Kota Denpasar, yang terdapat tempat penjualan penjor untuk Hari Raya Galungan, Senin (14/9/2020).===Several prisoners are posted around Jalan Hayam Wuruk, East Denpasar District, Denpasar City, Monday for Galungan and Kuningan Day, (14/9/2020).

Denpasar City Family Welfare Empowerment Movement Team (TP-PKK) head Ida Ayu Selly Fajarini Mantra said the Galungan Bazaar was a routine activity every six months to welcome Galungan and Kuningan holidays. According to her, the Denpasar city government opened the bazaar in city government’s office complex to make it easier for people to shop for basic needs and necessities before the holidays.

"In the condition of the Covid-19 pandemic, we are implementing the bazaar by continuing to apply health protocols, as directed by the Mayor of Denpasar," said Selly Mantra.

According to Selly Mantra, the state civil servants became the hopes during the Covid-19 pandemic.

She said that the Denpasar City Family Welfare Empowerment Movement Team had written to the head of the Denpasar city government\'s regional apparatus organization (OPD) to participate by sending their employees to shop at the bazaar. According to Selly Mantra, the state civil servants became the hopes during the Covid-19 pandemic. Their consumption was expected to boost the economy of the people in the regions.

Thrifty shopping

With the bazaar in the Graha Sewaka Dharma Lumintang area being held before the Galungan and Kuningan holidays, Ida Ayu Nyoman Sriyoni, 43, a resident of Dauh Puri Kauh village, West Denpasar district, shopped for goods for ceremonies to welcome the holidays. Sriyoni acknowledged that the pandemic had caused him to save more.

"Now, it is enough to buy only essential items," said Sriyoni. "This pandemic is indeed burdensome on the family economy. Actually, having ceremonies [in Bali] is flexible. Keep them small and simple as long as they are complete. The important thing is sincerity," he said.