Featuring everything from scenic beaches to rich festivals celebrating art and culture, Bali has it all! The surfer’s paradise is set on a lush landscape with terraced rice fields surrounded by volcanoes. Whether you’re an art buff or someone who lives for the thrill of nightlife, Bali has something to offer to everybody.
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5 Festivals You Must Experience in Bali
Here’s a list of the best Balinese festivals one must experience.
Sanur Village Festival
The Sanur Village Festival is a grand annual event hosted in the quaint village of Sanur, Bali with attractive highlights such as a kite flying competition, live performances from artists from across the country and the world, as well as a delectable selection of local and international cuisines that is sure to leave you wanting more! The Sanur Village Festival is a great place to be for anyone looking to get a feel of authentic Balinese culture at its best. If you’re looking to experience and immerse yourself in the beauty of Balinese culture, the Sanur Village Festival is your best bet, so make sure to make reservations and plan your visit well in advance.
Ubud Food Festival
For the love of food and gastronomical delight, visit the Ubud Food Festival to savour a wide variety of cuisines from across Indonesia and the world. It is one of Indonesia’s leading food festivals and attracts tourists from all over the world every year. Over a span of three days, the Ubud Food Festival features several cooking workshops, demonstrations night markets, film screenings as well as tasting events hosted by leading chefs. Be a part of the Ubud Food Festival to experience this grand celebration of food in Bali.
Galungan Festival
To truly appreciate the local culture of Bali, you have to immerse yourself in the festivities of the Galungan festival which celebrates the triumph of good over evil. It’s a vista to see Balinese women carrying offerings to the Gods in extravagant baskets. The festive mood at the Galungan festival is sure to lift spirits, with beautiful bamboo poles lining the streets and delicious dishes such as Lawar being served.
Odalan Festival
Bali boasts of over 4,500 intricately carved temples that are breathtaking to witness. Each of these temples has a grand festival called an Odalan to commemorate the day the temple was consecrated and is usually held on a new or full moon night. The temples are decorated with golden cloth and various ornaments in preparation for grand celebrations that last over a period of three to eleven days, depending on how often the event occurs. The Balinese people celebrate Odalan with performances of festive music, dances, and offerings to the deities.
Nyepi Day
Nyepi Day is the New Year’s Day in the Balinese Saka Calendar. It is considered a day of self-reflection and everyone on the island turns off their lights and sounds and meditates, leaving behind worldly pleasures. The day is observed as a ‘Day of Silence’ and is an important part of Balinese culture. On the eve of Nyepi Day on 16th March, there are extravagant celebrations featuring ogoh-ogoh, which are large paper doll parades meant to purify the island and ward off evil spirits to welcome the new year.
Book Your Visit to Bali Now!
Leave the stress of everyday life behind and book yourself and your loved ones a much-needed vacation to the paradise island of Bali! Come be a part of the rich Balinese culture with exciting festivals that will rejuvenate your soul. Plan and book your vacation with SOTC now!
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I had no idea that there were so many fantastic festivals that happened in Bali! I actually don’t know a lot about Bali since I haven’t travelled there nor have I done any research, but I would love to add one of these festivals to my list when I go. Thanks for bringing them to my attention!
These seem like some really nice events to experience when one travels to Bali.
I’ve been wanting to go to Bali for sometime now! It’s beautiful! Now I want to go for the festivals too!!
All of these look amazing. I’d really love to see them sometime. I think going to Indonesia would be amazing.
Nyepi festival sounds so fun. New Year’s day is my favorite holiday also. Just saying
This is interesting. I never knew about these festivals that were celebrated in Bali and this is a great way to explore the culture
That’s such nice information about the festivals of Bali. Would like to experience Sanur village festival and Odalan one. These two sound interesting 😃.
Wow that’s great! I’m interested and that seems fun and full of life with Indonesia. I hope i can visit soon and experience their festivals. I’ll jot this down to my must visit place.
I feel like going to Bali right away. I would love to experience even one of the festivals. They sound so vibrant.
Bali is high on my wish-list of places to visit and I would love to catch one of these beautiful festivals while I am there!
I have a friend from Bali. Such a beautiful place and I one day hope to visit her home country with her some day.
Wow we were there for this performance and enjoyed it a lot. We were with kids so kept away from crowds. But nice to know about the various festivals there.
Bali is my favorite place to visit in Indonesia… I would love to visit and attend these festivals!
I love everything about Bali. Their culture, their weather, their food and their festivals too. It was great experience when i visited last summers. Hopefully I get a chance to visit them soon.
There is so much to do in Bali and love the way you have elaborated about all these festivals.
We have not been to Bali yet. I will surely keep your post in mind whenever we visit to check out the list of festivals.
I was there for Nyepi in 2015 Sandy and Vyjay. What a blast! We watched the parade by the now-closed McDonald’s on the corner in Jimbaran. What imposing effigies. We also remained quiet with lights shut off inside of the house for 24 hours, per Balinese custom.
Ryan
Indonesia seems to have such a beautiful culture! I would like to attend one of these festivals one day!
Thanks for sharing this I learned lot about of Bali. I am hoping to visit one day and I can make a trip.
All of the festivals sound like a ton of fun. I love going to festivals so that I can try new foods. I’m hoping they will open back up this summer.
Reading this makes me really miss travelling. I have been to Bali and I intended to go back this year but since there are things like this. I hope everything will go back to normal so we can travel again soon.
I would love to check out the food festival and experience the gastronomical delights. Every country’s food tells a lot about the history and culture of that place. And I believe the food festival will depict interesting things about Bali. I would put it in my travel bucket list.
Odalan festivals seems so interesting. Honestly all are great. Never knew about these. Great blog
Wow this is an amazing list. I have been to Bali only once and I spent most time seeing all the touristy things and massages. I would love to visit it again during these festivals especially during Nyepi Day. I will plan my next one around these times.
Bali is a great place to escape from your routine and just chill with your friends or family! I really love this Sanur Village Festival which is very vibrant, lively and full of activities. Will definitely going to attend other festivals too. Bookmarking this post for future reference.
Bali is a beautiful place and i would love to visit Bali during these festivals… Loved the post!
I’ve seen so many amazing spectacles what I was in Bali – I thought it couldn’t get any better. Man, do I stay corrected. Either are those festivals more gripping – or your photography is just far better than mine; probably both. Howsoever, this post proves that I need to visit Bali again!
Ubud Food Festival I wouldn’t miss! And Odalan Festival looks surreal!