Observe Tumpek Uduh during trips to Ubud - AsiaRooms.com

AsiaRooms.com highlights people who have used Ubud hotels or stayed in other parts of Bali may be aware of the Tumpek Uduh festival.

Also known as Tumpek Wariga and Tumpek Pengatag in some areas, this holy day is devoted to the worship of Dewa Sangkara, the Hindu god of the plants and food.

The day is also widely considered to be the unofficial starting point of Bali's Galungan preparations, with the festival taking place from May 12th to May 22nd this year.

During Tumpek Uduh, Balinese Hindus make offerings to Dewa Sangkara and pray for a plentiful harvest.

They also ask for the protection of existing crops, to ensure that there will be plenty of fruit and vegetables to be used in the offerings during Galungan.

As the major festival of the Balinese pawukon calendar, Galungan is a traditional focal point of religious activity on the island.

Occurring every 210 days, the holiday period lasts ten days and finds Balinese people spending time with their families, making offerings and cooking special meals.

It is believed that the gods descend to Earth and walk among the people during Galungan, before returning to the heavens on Kuningan, the last day of the celebrations.