DENPASAR, BALI, October 26, 2017 (Republika): Balinese Hindus will soon celebrate the Galungan Holy Day on November 1, 2017 and Kuningan on November 11, 2017. The chairman of the Parisada Hindu Dharma Indonesia (PHDI) of Bali Province, I Gusti Ngurah Sudiana, appealed to society to observe this year’s religious ceremonies differently keeping in mind the status of Gunung Agung volcano that is still at alert level four. “We are telling all Hindus to stay in compliance with the government’s directive not to be in disaster-prone areas for the sake of our safety,” Sudiana said.
The threat of an eruption of the Mount Agung volcano has displaced many residents due to the government’s evacuation order. These people are being asked to not re-enter the evacuation zone to celebrate Galungan and Kuningan in their own villages. Sudiana said PHDI appealed to those who have been displaced to adapt their celebration of the holidays according to their means and abilities. For example, the ancestor worship component of the holiday can be done at the nearest Kawitan Temple, or Pura Tri Kahyangan of the local Pekraman Village rather than in their home village. The number of refugees from the danger zone has reached 133,468 people. They are scattered in 387 refugee points.