Ceremonies related to Galungan and Kuningan, two festivals that take place once every six months, ended last Saturday. The associated month-long series of rituals can also be taken to signify the journey of Balinese Hindus throughout their lifetime.

Kuningan marks the end of the celebration of the triumph of dharma over adharma, good against evil. The day can also be simply defined as the return of the deities and ancestors to their own places, after prayers have been uttered in the hope that their families can live in a state of wellness and prosperity.

Marking the beginning of this celebration is Galungan, when families prepare for an extended family communion, welcoming their departed loved ones into their homes with various offerings.

There are several symbols in the festivals'€™ ornaments that have deep religious meanings. Made of young coconut leaves, but in various shapes, these include endongan, tamiang, ter and sampian gantung.

In every household, there are at least 30 packages of these ornaments, which are usually hung near where offerings are placed.

Some people believe that the ornaments are simply symbols of warfare, although philosophically they can represent weapons of '€œwar against the self'€ '€“ a defense against anger, envy and other negative emotions.

In Bali, Galungan and Kuningan are the most significant religious celebrations besides Nyepi. During the peak of the celebration, schools and offices are closed and students usually have two weeks of vacation.

There are various versions of the history of Galungan. The Jaya Kasunu manuscript, which was quoted in the book titled Galungan authored by Sirikanden, states that Galungan and Kuningan were celebrated after disasters during the reign of King Sri Jaya Kasunu.

Meanwhile, the Panji Malat Rasmi manuscript narrates that in the 11th century, the kingdom of Jenggala in Kediri had celebrated Galungan. Another manuscript, Purana Bali Dwipa, as quoted by I Gusti Ketut Widana, states that Galungan had been observed since the year 882.

Although the essence of the festival is widely known as the victory of dharma over adharma, it is also understood as one self'€™s victory in being able to control emotions, as well as being able to share with others.

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