Saraswati Day: A Ceremony to Goddess of Knowledge

Almost everything in Bali has its celebration, such as ceremonies for humans, pets, buildings, vehicles, nature, and many more. Every celebration has its unique offerings. This ceremony is called Saraswati which identical with Goddess Saraswati. Have you ever heard about it?

Bali has lots of ceremonial traditions and offerings that are identical to Bali itself. Bali, without all of them, Bali wouldn’t be called Bali. The collaboration between traditions, cultures, and offerings are strongly related to the Hindu religion. 

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What is the meaning of Saraswati?

Sarawati is derived from the words of Sanskrit; Sara means ‘she/he who gives essence/meaning’; Swa means ‘herself/himself,’ and Thi says ‘she/he who knows.’ Saraswati also comes from the word of Saras means ‘flowing,’ and Wati means ‘possess.’ Saraswati means the one who continually flows knowledge, which will give wealth and enlightenment to those who are willing to earn or study. They celebrate it every six months or 210 days, precisely on the day of Saniscara Wuku Watugunung.

Why does the day of Knowledge fall on this particular day? What adds intrigue to this occasion is that Saraswati, known as the day of knowledge, marks the conclusion of the 210-day pawukon (or pewukon) calendar. This calendar is structured with 30 weeks (wuku), each consisting of 7 days, and it determines both market days and various temple anniversaries. The Balinese story of Watugunung, similar to the Oedipus tale, intertwines Hari Saraswati and the names assigned to individual wuku weeks with the prohibition of incest.

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Goddess Saraswati and The Meaning of The Symbols

Saraswati day is an essential day for Hinduism, especially for students, education practitioners, and for all people in general as we should learn in a lifetime. Hindus believe that Saraswati is the day of science that comes down to earth for prosperity, progress, peace, and increasing human civilization. 

Saraswati is the Goddess of a protective/abundance of knowledge, awareness, and literature. The beautiful Goddess Saraswati, dressed in white, sits on a lotus and rides a goose. Goddess Saraswati has four hands that hold musical instruments and holy scriptures. All of them have different meaning that relates to each other. 

A Beautiful Woman

A beautiful woman symbolizes strength that is beautiful, attractive, gentle, and noble. The beautiful woman describes the Goddess Saraswati and explains how impressive the knowledge is. 

Rosary Beads

According to Hindu belief, rosary beads symbolize eternal life and the vast scope of knowledge that awaits us. In addition to formal and informal learning, we are constantly learning science and knowledge, represented by the Japa Mantra (reciting spells continuously).

Holy Scriptures

Holy Scriptures symbolize that science/knowledge is sacred and represents how knowledge can lead humans to enlightenment.

Lotus

The lotus flower is a symbol of purity and knowledge. It also represents the need to resist the temptations that surround us and keep us from being pure and knowledgeable.

Goose

The goose symbolizes wisdom. When foraging, geese can distinguish between food and mud. Therefore, knowledge helps humans to differentiate between the good and the bad ones. 

Music Instruments

Music instruments symbolize culture. Art is an amusement of a distracted mind, and so does science/knowledge. Experience the enduring beauty and entertainment of science and knowledge throughout a lifetime.

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What did People do On Saraswati Day?

The day before Saraswati, people are making offerings like canang, gebogan, and another particular offering for Saraswati day. Students in schools are doing this kind of thing. They are also making penjor and decorating their school temple. people are praying at home, at school, in offices, and in temples. People must refrain from reading or writing magic during the worship ceremony, which extends from morning to midday. They put the offerings on their books, holy scriptures, and other things they use during the study. 

People are used to praying to one temple to other temples around Bali all day long. In the night of Saraswati, people meditate all night long. Some people are only reading holy scriptures until dawn to get enlightenment from Sang Hyang Aji Saraswati (Goddess Saraswati). You can meditate and read holy scriptures either at home or in the temple.

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The Following days of Saraswati Day

1. Pangredanan (the day before Saraswati)

This day is set aside for preparations. People gather all their books and lontar (traditional palm leaf manuscripts), giving them a thorough clean and dust-off.

2. Saraswati Day

On Saraswati Day, the Balinese honor their sacred texts and scrolls at home with offerings. Students and office workers celebrate in schools and workplaces, respectively, typically in the morning. The essence of Saraswati Day lies in valuing knowledge as the cornerstone of human life.

3. Banyu Pinaruh

Following Saraswati Day is Banyu Pinaruh, a day symbolizing wisdom as essential and flowing like water, beneficial to humankind. It’s a time to seek cleverness and wisdom from Dewi Saraswati (a divine manifestation). People customarily cleanse themselves in bodies of water and consume traditional herbal medicine made from a variety of leaves, emphasizing the importance of good health as a vital aspect of life.

4. Soma Ribek

Two days post-Saraswati Day, Soma Ribek falls on a Monday. The day is celebrated by giving thanks for the abundant food and drink, and offering them to the rice storage. It’s a prayer to Dewi Sri (Goddess of Prosperity) for continued prosperity and a reminder of the significance of dietary choices and moderation for better health. Food and drink are considered the third pillars of a fulfilling human existence.

5. Sabuh Mas

Three days after Saraswati Day, Sabuh Mas is observed on a Tuesday. It’s a day for appreciating material wealth, such as clothing, money, and jewelry, with offerings made to secure storage areas. It serves as a gratitude expression to Mahadewa (a divine manifestation) and a reminder to spend wisely. The day underscores that material possessions, like clothes and gold, are the fourth essential elements in life.

6. Pagerwesi

They celebrate Pagerwesi four days after Saraswati Day, symbolizing protection and strength, with its name meaning “iron fence.” On this day, people offer prayers to Sang Hyang Pramesti Guru (a divine manifestation) and make offerings at home temples and all other temples. As the second most significant Balinese holiday after Galungan, Pagerwesi emphasizes the importance of maintaining knowledge, health, food, clothing, and wealth to preserve universal harmony.

Conclusion

Saraswati Day has some meanings that are to thank God for conferring science, intelligence, and enlightenment that make humans exempt from stupidity. On the other side, we as a human should learn to be wise, and create a balance between secular knowledge and spirituality.

If you are into Bali, you might want to know more about this celebration. And consider yourself lucky if you can celebrate Saraswati Day in Bali. One essential thing to do is make sure you have a comfortable place to stay in Bali. Find the one that suits your needs at Ubud Villas Rental by Red Lotus Property. There are lots of villas in Ubud and in Saba that you can choose from. Ubud Villas Rental has the most comfortable villas that you can enjoy to the most luxurious villas that you ever see. Leave Us a Message for which one you want the book villa on our Contact Us now!.