An odalan is the anniversary festival of a temple, marking the day it was consecrated. With thousands of temples on the island, an odalan is happening somewhere in Bali on almost any day. Most temples follow the 210-day Pawukon calendar, so their festivals come around roughly every seven months; others follow the lunar calendar and are held once a year.
During an odalan the deities of the temple are believed to descend and stay for the duration of the festival. The temple is cleaned, repaired and decorated in the days before, often with tall penjor, colorful banners and cloth wrapped around shrines. Most festivals last about three days, and major temples may continue for a week or longer. The festival is both an act of devotion and a celebration of the community.
Visiting an odalan is one of the most memorable experiences in Bali. Women arrive carrying towering offerings of fruit and cakes on their heads, gamelan plays in the pavilions and priests lead prayers in the inner courtyard. Sacred dances, shadow puppet plays and other performances may continue late into the night. Visitors who dress properly and behave respectfully are usually welcome to watch from the side.
Highlights
- Towering offerings carried on heads
- Gamelan and sacred dances
- Shadow puppet plays at night
- Temples dressed in banners and penjor
Good to know
- Ask your hosts or driver whether an odalan is happening nearby; they usually know.
- Arrive in the late afternoon to see the offerings arrive and the evening performances.
- Do not use flash or stand in front of worshippers during prayers.
Bali: Culture, Tradition & Religion
Offerings, ceremonies, temples and beliefs: 100 short chapters on what makes Balinese culture unlike anywhere else.