It’s always good to know when the official holidays are in Bali because some dates, like Nyepi, you are losing virtually a day of your holiday having to be in the hotel and in silence. Other major events like Galungan and Kuningan can see shops close for days on end even though it is great to witness these occasions. Then there are the government closure days like Islamic holidays when banks and offices are closed and this can be inconvenient. Bali Discovery has just released a list of the official holidays for travellers to Bali.

The Government in a joint decree issued on June 9, 2008 by the Minister of Religion, Minister of Manpower and Transmigrations and the Minister, and the State Minister for Administrative Reform declared the following official holidays for 2009:

01 January 2009 – New Year’s Day

02 January 2009 – Shared Holiday by Government Decree

26 January 2009 – Chinese New Year (Imlek) 2560

09 March 2009 – Birthday of the Prophet Muhammad

26 March 2009 – Hari Raya Nyepi Tahun Baru 1931 (Bali’s Official day of Silence – Hindu New Years Day)

10 April 2009 – Good Friday

09 May 2009 – Hari Raya Waisak

21 May 2009 – The Ascension of Jesus Christ into Heaven

20 July 2009 – Isra Mi’raj Prophet Mohammad SAW – Celebrating the Ascension of The Prophet Muhammad

17 August 2009 – Indonesian National Independence Day

21-22 September 2009 – Hari Raya Idul Fitri 1430 H

23 September 2009 – Shared Holiday by Government Decree

27 November 2009 – Idul Adha 1430H

18 December 2009 – Islamic New Year 1431H

24 December 2009 – Shared Holiday by Government Decree

25 December 2009 – Christmas Day

Popularity: 87% [?]