DENPASAR, BALIPOST.com – The Holy Galungan Day is a moment that Hindus in Bali have been waiting for. Every 6 months according to the Balinese calendar, Hindus in Bali celebrate the victory of Dharma (goodness) over Adharma (evil).
Similar to other major religious holidays, Galungan is not only filled with rituals and prayers. There are also dining events with relatives.
Just like Muslims who are synonymous with ketupat and opor, Galungan is also synonymous with the typical food usually served on this holiday.
Here are 7 typical foods served during Galungan Day, reported by various sources:
1. Lawar
Lawar is a typical dish that must be had during Galungan Day. One thing that makes this dish unique is the tradition of cooking it which is usually done by men.
This tradition not only strengthens ties of brotherhood between people, but also becomes an image or symbol of mutual cooperation.
Lawar is made from pork meat or offal, young jackfruit, grated coconut and Balinese basa genep spices. However, the representation of lawar itself varies greatly depending on the region.
One of the most common dishes is Lawar Nyuh. This type of lawar uses coconut mixed with pig’s blood. This lawar is also known as Lawar Getih (Blood).
2. Balung Soup
Kuah Balung is also a food made from pork. This is a soup made with typical Balinese spices, with a mixture of onions, turmeric, galangal, ginger and chili which gives this dish a rich taste of spices.
3. Sate Lilit
Sate lilit is also a typical Balinese culinary dish that is never missed during Galungan Day. This dish, made from various types of meat such as beef, chicken and sea fish, is the main menu at big events in Bali.
Even though it is called satay, satay lilit itself comes in different forms. These wrapped satay skewers are made from large and wide bamboo.
Some people sometimes serve it with lemongrass stalks. Instead of being skewered, satay is served by wrapping it around the skewers provided.
4. Sequence
The next dish served when Galungan is the order. Sequence is a typical Balinese sausage made from pork that is chopped and then mixed with genep base. The mixture is then put into clean pig intestines, then smoked until dry.
5. Tum
This dish, called tum, uses minced meat mixed with yellow spices. Meat can be pork, chicken or fish. However, what is common during Galungan is pork tum.
Wrap the tum in banana leaves and steam until cooked.
6. Fried meat
Fried pork is generally a typical dish that must be had during Galungan celebrations. Even though it’s simple by just frying the meat and pork innards after seasoning to taste with salt and pepper, fried food should not be left out when eating lawar and balung sauce.
7. Jaja Uli and Sticky Rice Tape
Still with sweet snacks. The next typical Galungan celebration food which is no less popular is jaja uli. This snack is served with sticky rice tape which tastes sour, sweet and fresh. Jaja uli is usually served as a dessert after celebrating Galungan.
Jaja uli is made from sticky rice that is steamed until cooked and cut into cubes. If lawar is made by men, then jaja uli is made by women.
This food is also often served as an offering to the ancestors.
So, those are 7 typical dishes that Hindus usually serve during the Galungan celebration. (Cahya Dwipayanti/balipost)
