The origins of Çiwalatri are based on the story of I Lubdaka, a man who stayed up all night in a Bila tree trying to avoid being eaten by a tiger. To stay awake he picked the leaves and reflected on everything he had done in his life, both good and bad. Inadvertently, the leaves he picked showered a shrine below dedicated to Çiwa. This greatly pleased Çiwa and due to his actions Çiwa forgave his sins, granting him entry to heaven when he died.
On this day, Balinese Hindus pray specifically to Çiwa, who is considered to be the destroyer, the Godly manifestation with the power to end life on Earth and even destroy Earth itself. Çiwalatri is a day for reflection and introspection about both the bad and good things they have done. People pray for their sins to be forgiven and hope they will be given guidance so that in the future they don’t commit the same sins, on the contrary do good deeds, known as subha karma. This is all in the hope that they will achieve moksa, by doing so breaking the cycle of birth and rebirth and their spirit becoming one with God.
People get up early at 4am, ritually cleanse themselves and then put out offerings to Çiwa. Three times during the day they will chant a six-part prayer known as Tri Sandya. Some people practise yoga-samadhi and fast until 7pm in the evening. Normally, people break the fast together by sharing the spoils of the offerings, such as fruit, rice, crackers, egg and sweet cakes.
Many people stay up all night in reflection and sleep together in temples around Bali, particularly at Besakih, Pasar Agung and Batur. These days, young people often abuse the night of Çiwalatri to get together with the opposite sex out of the view of their parents.
