Kajeng Kliwon Pamelastali

Kajeng Keliwon Pamelastali, also called Watugunung Runtuh, is a spiritually significant day in the Balinese calendar that symbolizes the fall of ego, the end of karmic cycles, and a return to inner clarity. It marks a moment for deep reflection, where individuals are encouraged to cleanse their thoughts, release attachments, and seek balance between the material and spiritual realms. Through offerings and quiet rituals, Balinese Hindus honor the unseen forces that guide transformation and renewal, allowing space for growth through letting go.

Description of the Ceremony

Purpose

The purpose of Kajeng Keliwon Pamelastali, also known as Watugunung Runtuh, is to provide a sacred moment for deep spiritual reflection, purification, and release. It symbolizes the collapse of ego and the end of karmic cycles that bind individuals to suffering or imbalance. Balinese Hindus observe this day to cleanse their thoughts, intentions, and energy, letting go of negative influences—both seen and unseen. It is a time to break old patterns, clear inner disturbances, and make space for clarity and transformation. Through quiet rituals, offerings, and prayers, this day serves as a spiritual reset, guiding the soul toward greater balance, humility, and awareness of life’s deeper truths.

Rituals

The ceremony often involves various rituals, such as:

• Offerings: On this sacred day, offerings are made with the intention of cleansing the self and warding off negative forces. Balinese Hindus prepare segehan—a simple offering of colored rice placed at key points around the home or compound to restore energetic balance. Special offerings such as Banten Durmanggala are created to dispel misfortune and spiritual disturbances. Daily offerings like Canang Sari are also used, accompanied by heartfelt prayers, while tirta (holy water) may be sprinkled for purification. These offerings are placed at entrances, shrines, and crossroads, marking a symbolic release of impurities and an invitation for renewed spiritual clarity.
• Prayers and Chanting: On Kajeng Keliwon Pamelastali, prayers and chanting focus on purification, release, and spiritual protection. Balinese Hindus recite mantras and sacred verses to cleanse the mind and soul from negative influences and to let go of ego or karmic burdens. Chanting is often guided by a pemangku (priest) or performed individually with deep intention. The energy of the mantras is believed to restore balance, create a sacred space, and invite clarity. These spiritual recitations are a key part of the ritual process, helping to align the individual with divine consciousness and inner peace.
• Ceremonial Cleansing: Ceremonial cleansing on Kajeng Keliwon Pamelastali is centered around the release of negative energy, the purification of the soul, and the dissolution of ego. Individuals and families may perform melukat (spiritual bathing) using tirta (holy water) at home shrines, temples, or sacred springs. This cleansing ritual is often accompanied by prayers and offerings, allowing participants to symbolically and spiritually let go of inner burdens, past mistakes, and harmful patterns. The act of purification on this day supports a return to balance, humility, and spiritual clarity, making space for transformation and renewal.

Community Participation

Community participation during Kajeng Keliwon Pamelastali tends to be introspective and personal, yet widely observed across Balinese households. While the rituals are often performed individually or within families, there is a shared understanding throughout the community of the day’s spiritual weight. In some villages, group prayers, cleansing rituals, or shared offerings may be held at temples or sacred sites. People also gather at pura tirta (water temples) for melukat ceremonies, especially when the day coincides with heightened spiritual calendars. This quiet yet collective observance creates a sense of unity, as the entire community focuses on inner purification, humility, and spiritual reset.

Cultural Significance

Kajeng Keliwon Pamelastali, also known as Watugunung Runtuh, holds deep cultural significance in Balinese tradition as a day of spiritual reckoning and self-liberation. It symbolizes the collapse of ego, the end of karmic cycles, and the invitation to return to a state of inner purity and balance. Rooted in the story of Watugunung, a powerful yet prideful figure whose downfall came through self-awareness, this day reminds the Balinese of the importance of humility, introspection, and the impermanence of worldly attachments. The rituals and offerings performed reflect a core value in Balinese culture: maintaining harmony not only with the outer world, but also within the self. This sacred moment reinforces the cyclical nature of life and the ongoing journey toward spiritual refinement—a concept central to Balinese identity and cosmology.

Timing

Kajeng Keliwon Pamelastali is observed every 210 days, when the rare and spiritually potent combination of Kajeng Keliwon aligns with the final day of the Wuku Watugunung in the Balinese Pawukon calendar. It marks the symbolic end of the 210-day cycle, making it a powerful time for cleansing, letting go, and spiritual renewal. Rituals and offerings are typically carried out from morning until evening, with some individuals performing melukat or joining community prayers during this transitional and introspective moment.

Conclusion

Kajeng Keliwon Pamelastali is a deeply meaningful day that invites Balinese Hindus to pause, reflect, and release. It marks the symbolic collapse of ego, the end of spiritual cycles, and the chance to return to a more balanced and conscious state of being. Through offerings, prayers, and cleansing rituals, individuals seek to clear inner disturbances and realign with divine truth. This sacred moment serves as both a personal and cosmic reset, encouraging humility, simplicity, and inner peace. It is a reminder that true strength lies not in holding on, but in the grace of letting go—honoring the cycles of life, death, and rebirth that guide the Balinese spiritual path.