Penjor in Galungan Ceremony and Its Religious Meaning

There is a time when you see Balinese people put a decorated bamboo pole. Then, they put them in front of their houses and across the side of the road. In Bali, this accessory is known as Penjor.

Penjor is one of the traditional accessories Balinese people must install during specific religious ceremonies, including the Galungan Ceremony. You may be curious why people there use Penjor. Here, we will explain a little bit about the meaning of this accessory in Bali. 

About Penjor 

Penjor is made of an approximately 10-meter bamboo pole. Balinese people take specific bamboo poles. They must ensure that the bamboo poles have a curved end. Then, they add accessories to the bamboo poles, such as a young coconut leaf, cassava, coconut, bananas, pineapples, and many more. 

Most of the accessories in Penjor are crops with colorful flowers to make them more attractive to see. There is a reason why Penjor is decorated with crops and flowers. People in Bali want to say thank you to Gods for giving them abundant harvest, a peaceful and beautiful island, health, and prosperity. 

Indeed, it makes Bali more attractive than before. It seems that you are about to feel a happy atmosphere during this moment. 

Parts of Penjor and Its Religious Meaning 

Bamboo Pole 

The Bamboo Pole is one of the primary elements of Penjor. It is the place to put all the additional accessories, such as the crops, flowers, and others. Balinese people symbolize a bamboo pole as a mountain. 

That’s why they always use a bamboo pole with a curved end to make it look like a mountain. People in Bali say that a mountain represents the greatness of the Gods. A mountain is also showing how powerful Brahma is, the Creator.

Bamboo pole Covered by Cloth 

There is also a bamboo pole covered with cloth. It is a new and clean cloth with white and yellow color. Again, Balinese people choose these items for specific reasons. 

First, the bamboo pole is the symbol of the strength of the Gods known as Maheswara. Maheswara is the king of the southeast.

Second, the white and yellow cloth shows the strength of Iswara, the king of the east. The white cloth is taken from the white elephant, the mount of Iswara.

Sampian 

Sampian is the accessories installed on the curved end of the bamboo pole. Balinese people believe that Sampian is the representation of the tail of the dragon known as Basuki. It also symbolizes quietness and calmness without doing anything.

Balinese people also add another accessory known as Janur, a young coconut leaf. Some local people say that it represents the hair of the dragon. Others explain that the coconut leaves are also the symbol of Mahadewa, the god of dignity. 

Traditional Balinese Snacks 

You will also see traditional Balinese snacks in Penjor known as Jaja Gina dan Uli. Jaja Gina is made of cooked sticky rice. This main ingredient is shaped round or square. People will give this snack food coloring based on their needs.

Next, the colored sticky rice is dried under the sunlight for a few hours. The dry sticky rice is fried before using it for the content of Penjor. During the making of Jaja, people must keep their mouths, thoughts, and activities away from something bad. 

In Balinese tradition, Jaja also means to restrain lust. Local people also explain that Jaja symbolizes Visnu or Brahma. Visnu is the caretaker of God, whereas Brahma is the Creator. 

Coconut 

The young coconut leaves are not the only part of the coconut that Balinese people often use for Penjor. They also use the coconut fruit since it has a strong religious symbol on this island. Coconut is the symbol of Rudra, the god of wind or storm. 

Tamiang 

There is a craft that looks like a flower or Chakra in Penjor. It is known as Tamiang. This accessory is made of a young coconut leaf. Due to the shape and the main ingredient, Tamiang is used to prevent people from something evil.

A Recommended Place to See Penjor While Relaxing 

You will also see a lot of Penjor while walking around Ubud on Galungan Day. We suggest you visit a specific restaurant in Ubud known as Shrida Taste of Ubud Restaurant. This restaurant tries to share the Balinese authentic atmosphere and taste.

That’s why you will see various Balinese accessories, such as statues, masks, and other things. This restaurant will also put a Penjor to let their guests see it closer. Shrida Taste of Ubud Restaurant even serves some authentic Balinese attractions you may only see during traditional ceremonies.

Here, you can enjoy it daily based on the schedule. Indeed, the attractions and special events are available upon request. The most important thing is that you can enjoy the Galungan Ceremony atmosphere while enjoying delicious authentic Balinese dishes and drinks. Find out everything about things you can order and enjoy while in this restaurant at www.shridaubud.com.