Colors of Denpasar - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

Denpasar is a colorful, multiethnic city where every traveler can feel at home. There is always a very lively atmosphere here, on the streets you can see emotionally chatting citizens whose faces are always smiling. The cultural traditions of ancestors are of great importance to local residents. Many of them still call their hometown by its old name - Bandung. The present name was given to the city only in 1936.

One of the main distinguishing features of the modern city is heavy traffic. One can travel around its territory by car freely only at night because in the daytime the traffic literally stops. That is why many travelers prefer to walk on foot, slowly exploring picturesque streets.

An interesting form of local transport is horse-drawn dogcarts, by which you reach any part of the city. Quite recently, they were real traffic participants, but today they have lost their important status and serve exclusively as an entertaining tourist attraction. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

One of the brightest and most famous national holidays is the annual Bali Arts Festival that is held in June. Attending this holiday is the best way to get to know the culture of locals. Traditionally, the festival opens with a parade of dance groups. Dressed in exotic colorful costumes, dancers show enthusiastic spectators their enchanting performances they've been preparing for the entire year. The holiday lasts almost a month, during this time Denpasar hosts a variety of cultural and recreational activities. Exhibitions, musical concerts, interesting tours, children's events, and exciting competitions - everyone can choose entertainment to their liking.

A new thematic focus is chosen for the festival every year, so all the parties and entertainment programs are unique. During the festival, vacationers are invited to visit local shops to buy beautiful national costumes, which have been some of the most popular souvenirs for many years. Denpasar is a cozy and hospitable city and time spent here brings a lot of joy.

You can see it for yourself at other festivals taking place in the capital of Bali Island all year round. One of the most significant events in the city's festival life can be called the simple-named Denpasar Festival locally known as "Denfest". The 3-day event is held before the New Year in Catur Muka Park. This is one of the best festivals for getting acquainted with the local color, feeling incomparable unity with nature. At this time, organizers please the audience with art exhibitions, dance, interactive shows, seminars, workshops, yet again proving that Denpasar is one of the most beautiful tourist destinations through such a broad program.

In mid-March or early April, a very unusual holiday having no analogs anywhere else in the world takes place all over the island. This is about the so-called "Kissing Ritual" Omed-omedan. It celebrates the beginning of the New Year in Bali ("Nyepi"). The large-scale actions take place in the village of Sesetan, a suburb of Denpasar, where the tradition of “hunting for a kiss” finds its deep meaning. Girls and boys are divided into two “camps”, and the latter should kiss as many ladies as possible. Of course, resistance on the part of girls is not rare, and local residents at this time "cool down" young men with the help of ice water buckets. And all this happens with traditional Balinese dances and music. And a statue of Barong, the king of spirits, as if guards the holiday, being a kind of its symbol.

A kite festival that is held on Sanur Beach is another multi-faceted event that is worth visiting at least to find out how the real fun feels like. It takes place in the middle of June when huge kites depicting traditional Balinese gods are launched into the sky, turning into a very interesting spectacle. Many travelers from all over the world visit Denpasar just to witness this colorful show. July in Denpasar is marked by holding Bali Fashion Week. During the event, the city is visited by many players of the international world fashion arena, so this is a great opportunity to conclude a profitable deal for businessmen and fashion designers. The venue of the event is the central streets of the city and its exhibition complexes.

In the middle of August, Sanur Beach becomes the venue for the Sanur Village Festival, during which visitors enjoy musical and dance performances, as well as local food tastings. Beach games are the favorite pastime of many visitors, and, of course, they cannot do without trying out different types of water activities - surfing, SUP-boarding, kayaking, diving. In October, gourmets flock to Kuta where they will be able to taste various local dishes, as well as watch performances, visit an art exhibition, participate in contests and games. Each year the festival is dedicated to a particular topic, and its main goal is to promote the ideas of peace and unity.

Hinduism prevails in Bali (although there are people who profess Islam), and therefore Hindu holidays hold a special place in the city's festival calendar. One of the most revered celebrations is Galungan symbolizing a struggle of good (Dharma) versus evil (Adharma). The celebration is accompanied by Balinese dances, processions from temple to temple, and, of course, fun - after all, people here believe that good always wins at the end. The festival ends with such a holiday as Kuningan, during which it is customary to offer gifts to the gods guarding the family and the house.

Another religious festival widely celebrated in Bali is Pagerwesi. Usually, the holiday falls on November, marking a celebration in honor of the creator of the world (Sanghyang). Balinese bring gifts to the great guru to get protection from evil. A multifaceted event called Nusa Dua Fiesta is scheduled for the beginning of September. This is the time of music, art, sports, dances, performances, workshops, and a fair of handmade products. A special program is prepared for children. As the name implies, it takes place in Nusa Dua tourist area where numerous restaurants, clubs, and hotels join the celebration.