This auspicious day is celebrated with great enthusiasm, particularly among students, teachers, and artists, who honor the goddess and seek her blessings for intellectual and creative pursuits
Significance of Saraswati Day
Saraswati is the consort of Brahma, the creator, and is depicted as a beautiful woman sitting on a lotus, holding a veena (musical instrument) and sacred scriptures. She symbolizes purity, wisdom, and creative expression. Saraswati Day falls on the last day of the Balinese Pawukon calendar, specifically on Saniscara Umanis Wuku Watugunung.
In schools and universities, special ceremonies are held where students and teachers pray together, seeking Saraswati’s blessings for wisdom and success in their studies. Artists and musicians also participate in similar rituals, honoring the goddess for their creative talents.
Banyu Pinaruh
The day after Saraswati Day is Banyu Pinaruh, a time for purification. Early in the morning, Balinese people visit the sea, rivers, or springs to bathe and cleanse themselves, symbolizing the purification of the body and soul. This ritual underscores the belief that knowledge and wisdom must be accompanied by purity and a clear mind.
Rituals and Observances
The day begins with prayers and offerings made at home shrines, temples, schools, and offices. Books, manuscripts, musical instruments, and other tools of learning and art are placed on altars and adorned with flowers as offerings to the goddess. It’s a day of abstaining from writing or reading books, emphasizing the sacredness of knowledge.
Celebrations in Temples
Many temples across Bali hold special services on Saraswati Day. Pura Taman Saraswati in Ubud, a temple dedicated to the goddess, becomes a focal point of celebrations. The temple, adorned with intricate carvings and surrounded by lotus ponds, provides a serene setting for devotees to offer prayers and partake in cultural performances such as traditional dances and music.
Saraswati Day is a beautiful celebration of knowledge, creativity, and intellectual growth. It reflects the Balinese commitment to education, the arts, and the pursuit of wisdom. For visitors, witnessing Saraswati Day offers an insightful glimpse into the cultural and spiritual life of Bali, highlighting the island’s deep reverence for learning and creativity.
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