Pura Dalem Sakenan stands on the northwestern shore of Serangan Island, south of Denpasar and close to Sanur. It is a modest temple in size, but one of great importance to Balinese Hindus in the south. Every 210 days, at Kuningan, the final day of the Galungan festival, thousands of worshippers gather here for the temple's anniversary celebration.
The temple is traditionally attributed to Mpu Kuturan, the Javanese priest who arrived in Bali in the early 11th century, and it is also associated with Dang Hyang Nirartha. It was built of limestone and coral from local reefs. Pilgrims once walked through the mangroves at low tide or came by colorful jukung boats, until land reclamation and a bridge in the 1990s changed the approach.
On ordinary days the temple is quiet, its coral walls weathered and its courtyards shaded by trees wrapped in black-and-white cloth. Shrines to the sea god Dewa Baruna reflect the island's ties to the water. At Kuningan the scene transforms, with crowds in white and gold carrying towering offerings to the inner courtyard. It is a powerful sight to witness respectfully.
Highlights
- Kuningan anniversary celebration
- Walls of coral and limestone
- Shrines to the sea god Dewa Baruna
- Easy trip from Sanur
Photos
Photos: Anandajoti · CC BY-SA 4.0 · edited / Anandajoti · CC BY-SA 4.0 · edited
Good to know
- Check the Balinese calendar for the date of Kuningan if you hope to see the festival.
- During ceremonies, stay at the edge of the courtyards and do not walk in front of people praying.
- On ordinary days the temple is quiet, so go early or late if you prefer to have it to yourself.
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Bali: Culture, Tradition & Religion
Offerings, ceremonies, temples and beliefs: 100 short chapters on what makes Balinese culture unlike anywhere else.
