One of the most exciting aspects of celebrating Christmas in Bali is experiencing all the different cultural festivities coming together in a truly unique way.
Here at The Bali Sun, the Christmas and New Year holidays are among our most favourite times of year, because Balinese people have adopted the spirit of Christmas and make sure all guests on the island feel festive.
Tourists visiting Nusa Dua this week have a chance to experience the magic of Christmas and Balinese culture together.
The Nusa Dua is one of Bali’s most luxurious resort destinations and is popular with families, couples, and solo travellers. This Christmas, tourists traveling to Nusa Dua can expect to encounter Santa, the Balinese Barong, and enjoy a fiery kecak performance.
Speaking to reporters, Made Purnama Damayanti, the Commercial & Relations Group Head of the Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), The Nusa Dua, said this event series is part of an effort to provide a unique experience for tourists during the Christmas and New Year period.
Damayanti shared, “We call it the Nataru customer experience. This is our annual year-end agenda to celebrate Christmas and New Year with a unique concept and Balinese character.”
In Indonesia, Christmas and New Year as a holiday is known as Nataru. The word is formed from the Indonesian for Christmas, ‘Natal’, and New Year, which is ‘Tahun Baru’. For holidaymakers who want to wish their Indonesian hosts a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in Bahasa Indonesia, we say ‘Selamat Natal dan Tahun Baru!
Tourists visiting Nusa Dua can expect to enjoy a traditional Barong Dance, as well as a performance of the fiery Kecak, which is a Balinese cultural show that portrays the tale of the Hindu epic the Ramayana; the story of the triumph of good over evil, dharma over adharma. These festivals have become an annual event at Nusa Dua since 2023, and tickets to the Christmas Kecak cost IDR 150,000.
Nusa Dua is not the only place where tourists can celebrate Christmas and New Year the Balinese way. Every tourist resort and tourist attraction in Bali will be hosting special events for the festive season. One very special set of celebrations will be taking place in Penglipuran Village in Bangli Regency.
Penglipuran Village is one of the most famous cultural attractions in Bali, and the community shot to international fame after winning the UN World Tourism Organisation Best Tourism Village Award.
Speaking to reporters earlier this month, the Head of Penglipuran Tourism Village, Wayan Sumiarsa, confirmed the festive events calendar so tourists can organise their trips ahead of time.
On the 27th December, Penglipuran Village will host a Barong Macan Parade. Featuring at least 15 Barong puppets.
The Barong is the mythological panther often seen in Balinese cultural performances, and the parade will be accompanied by live music from a traditional local orchestra known as a gamelan, played by musicians from the Penglipuran Youth Organisation.
Then from 28th December to the 1st January, Penglipuran Village will host a daily performance of Tetantrian Macan Gading, which tells the story of the Barong and will also be presented by the Penglipuran Youth Organisation, bringing together music and theatrical arts to tell a story about courage and togetherness.
One of the highlights of a visit to Penglipuran Village at this time of year is the stunning handmade decorations that have been installed around the community. “In the run-up to Christmas and New Year, we will also decorate the village with themed decorations utilizing bamboo and other natural materials, in keeping with Penglipuran’s character as a culturally and environmentally-based tourism village.”
He added, “The use of bamboo replaced many single-use plastic decorations, thereby reducing waste and reinforcing the message of regenerative tourism, a festive celebration that maintains a low ecological footprint.”
Tourists planning trips to Penglipuran Village can book guided day tours of Bangli Regency, which include stop-offs at other attractions in the area, including Tucked Cepung Waterfall. It is also possible to purchase entry tickets on arrival at Penglipuran Village.
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