Just imagine if all the times are the same or have no different significance, it will be useless to make division into 24 hours a day. If all days are the same, there is no need to make seven days a week and go on. When there is no time division, the past, present, and future never exist and so does the celebration. It is the time measuring the passage of human life across the space.

Balinese (Hindu) community has two years of calendar system, namely Saka Year and Pawukon Year. Saka year is based on the solar system or sasih (month) consisting of 355 days starting in 78 AD, while pawukon year is based on wuku (210 days) A wuku is valid for seven days and a pawukon year consists of 30 wukus. However, this pawukon year has no number of years. Based on these two calendar systems they determined the festivity and division of good time to do some activities.

In practice, festivals celebrated based on sasih are such as Sivalatri falling on the seventh month (around January), and Nyepi, or Day of Silence on the tenth month (March). Other than these festivities, there are some annual exorcism rituals held from the sixth month (December) until its height on Pengerupukan Day (March).

In the meantime, festivities celebrated based on pawukon system are Galungan & Kuningan, Sarasvati, assorted Tumpek, and so forth. Aside from determining auspicious days for ritual, the pawukon system also gives the same guidance like when to start cultivating the land, inaugurating business, organizing cremation ceremonies, and so on. When kajeng of the triwara (3day-week) Pasah, Beteng and Kajeng meet the kliwon of the five-day week such as Umanis, Paing, Pon, Wage, and Kliwon, known as kajeng-kliwon, it is a good time to hold a mecaru exorcism ritual meaning to maintain the balance of the universe. However, it is also said a good time to practice black magic.

Besides, the Balinese almanac also has a division of time into 35 based on the encounter of the five-day and seven-day week known as palelintangan. It illustrates the character of human beings based on their day of birth. For instance, the first one is Redite-Paing known as Lintang Gajah (Elephant). A birth on this Lintang is described to have character of good at keeping a secret and having many friends but loving, to pamper their passion. Another is Wrespati-Kliwon known as Lintang Naga (Dragon). Those belonging to this Lintang have aspirations, friendliness, self-confidence, and so forth. Artistically, this palelintangan is presented in a chart filled with symbols as the name of lintang.

Determination of date or day period in the Balinese calendar starts from the sunrise of the day through the next sunrise. It is different from the Gregorian calendar starting from 00:01 at midnight until the next 00:00. Misinterpretation often occurs on determining the day of birth at midnight or after. For example, a baby was born at 00:05 on Friday, January 1, 2010. Based on the Gregorian calendar, these date details have been correct. However, based on the Balinese calendar it indicates a misinterpretation. The day should be Thursday because 00:05 remains to belong to the previous day in the Balinese calendar starting from sunrise until the next sunrise. Misinterpretations of the day will have different lintang. As a consequence, it belongs to a different Lintang and has a different otonan (day of birth). Similarly, this will also give different readings of characters based on other weekdays (Balinese have one to ten-week days). In responding to this condition, a Balinese usually consult a priest having good knowledge of Hindu astrology whether it requires a purificatory rite or not based on lontar manuscript known as Wrehaspati Kalpa.

Both systems play an important role in the life of Balinese people. Their daily activities are usually started by choosing good days. They believe everything should be started at a good time and then followed by good practice in order to reach good results. Agricultural activities through subak organization always refer to the calendar system and so do business and other activities. On that account, the Balinese calendar does not only indicate the days throughout the year. However, it becomes important guidance on what to do and not to do in relation to Hindu teachings.

So interesting about Balinese calendar, you can explore more by visiting Art Center in Denpasar City. In the exhibition building on the 2nd floor, you can visit a raw of Balinese paintings that describe about Balinese calendar and astrology. Rent a car in Bali, suggested rent a car with driver, just inform your destination to Art Center in Denpasar, our driver will drive for you in pleasure. After visiting Art Center you can visit Bali Museum and Bali traditional market at Pasar Badung. You will have time to explore Bali's urban life and traditional way of life. Have a nice holiday trip in Bali.