Christmas Day in Bali seems to be Hindu's Galungan Day

DENPASAR (indo.com): This year's December 25 is a special day in Bali as the Balinese Hindus celebrate Saraswati Day while Christians celebrate Christmas.

The Saraswati is a day devoted to Sang Hyang Aji Saraswati, goddess of all knowledge and arts. Balinese Hindus make offerings in the forms of literary works or books in celebrating the day.

On Christmas Day, Christians throughout the world, including those in Bali, celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ

Most churches in Bali start Christmas service at 7 p.m. Many hotels, including Radison, Oberoi and Grand Hyatt, decorate their interior with young banana trees and Christmas trees.

Even though most Balinese are Hindu, other religious adherents, including Christians can observe their religious duties. Balinese Hindus' high sense of tolerance leads other religious adherents to live in harmony.

The word Galungan, for instance, is frequently used by other religious adherents to celebrate their respective religious day.

Many Balinese Hindus regard Christmas Day as Galungan for Christians because Balinese Christians, mostly inhabit several villages in the west border between Denpasar and Tabanan, install decorative long bamboo poles, locally known as 'penjor' in fronts of their house compounds. The sight of 'penjor' is similar with that found when Balinese Hindus celebrate Galungan and Kuningan Day.

Thanks to the harmonious religious interaction, Balinese Christians in Sawan Village, Buleleng Regency frequently name Galungan Kristen or Galungan Day for Christians instead of Christmas Day.

Additionally, different religious adherents in Bali have a tradition of paying a visit to their neighbors who are Christians, especially after Christmas service is over. They give presents, mostly in the forms of basic needs for making meals or cakes, such as sugar and rice. Locals regard the present-giving tradition as a symbol of good wishes when other religious adherents are celebrating their religious day.