Rejang Kuningan Dance Preserves Balinese Hindu Traditions

On June 27, 2026, during the Kuningan holiday in Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia, 14-year-old Ketut Alit Widiantari and over 30 female friends performed the sacred Rejang Kuningan dance at Puseh temple in Tista village. The dance marks the end of the 10-day Galungan festival, which celebrates the victory of good over evil. For Balinese Hindus, Kuningan is when deities and ancestral spirits return to heaven after blessing their communities. The Rejang dance, performed by young women in traditional dress and ornate headdresses made of leaves and flowers, is an offering to God and ancestors. Before the dance, a Hindu priest blessed the dancers and examined their costumes. The dance varies across Bali, shaped by local rituals. In Karangasem, villages preserve distinct traditions reflected in temple design, and the dance carries the identity of each village. Balinese men played traditional instruments during the performance. The event was captured by AP photographer Firdia Lisnawati.