Blessed be the Moon and the Sun

Whether you have been to Bali before or if it is your first time, you may have noticed that the local Balinese Hindus are dedicated worshippers. You will see, quite often, they dress up in traditional attire and go to the nearby temples to pray. And amongst the many beliefs of the Balinese Hindus are their devotion to the moon and its phases. The most notable cycles to be celebrated are the Full Moon (or as we call it in Bahasa Indonesia and Balinese, Purnama) and the New Moon (also known as Tilem). Each of these phases comes approximately every 15 days. So, in one month, there are usually one Purnama Day and one Tilem Day. What are the differences between the two, and why do these moon phases play an important role in Balinese Hindus’ life? Let’s learn more.

Moon Blessings

The night of the Full Moon is the day Balinese Hindus celebrate and praise God’s manifestation as the Moon God, Sang Hyang Candra. It is believed that when the moon is the brightest, lighting up the dark earth, Chandra, the Moon God gives his blessings through the lunar light. The Balinese Hindus will pray and ask for the Moon God’s guidance in their daily life. 

The day of Purnama, or the Full Moon, is also a great day to do some good deeds for ourselves and others. Balinese families usually gather in their homes or public temples to pray and bring offerings to the Gods. They often meditate and be cleansed with holy water by Hindu priests. This holy day also highlights the importance of physical and mental self-restraint, where indulging in intimate contact between couples is highly forbidden.

Sun Blessings

Unlike the Full Moon, New Moon is when the moon gives no light. At night, when there is darkness, the Balinese Hindus pray to the Sun God, Sang Hyang Surya, to give thanks for the lights that shine upon us. Because without darkness, there is no light. New Moon is also celebrated with prayers and meditation at home or in temples. And on this day, the Balinese Hindus are encouraged to cleanse themselves to eliminate their sins and bad karma. 

These two ceremonies, Full Moon and New Moon represent humans’ inner struggles between light and shadow, which are the good and the bad. Though considered sacred, everyone in Bali can celebrate Full Moon and New Moon in non-religious ways. If you happen to be in Bali during these two special days, be sure to join our Full Moon or New Moon buffet dinner featuring traditional Balinese delights and special Balinese performances.  

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Check out our Youtube video of the Moon traditions of Bali!