There were no grand stages or elaborate decorations that day. Instead, people gathered around baskets of fruit, lengths of bamboo, and shared conversations. Held at Bokasi Farm in East Denpasar, Megalungan Iklim unfolded as a simple Galungan celebration, one that looked to tradition not as something to preserve from a distance, but as something to live through while thinking about the future of the planet.
Megalungan Iklim was designed as a consciously low-impact celebration from the outset. There were no single-use plastics. All meals were prepared by local villagers using traditional recipes. Decorations were made from natural materials and locally sourced produce. More than a celebration, the event served as a reminder that environmental values can be practiced through everyday choices.
“We wanted Galungan to be a moment of reflection,” said Alamsta, Program Associate at New Energy Nexus Indonesia. “That doing good also means caring for the land, the sea, and the air we all share.”
Penjor and gebogan: A collective concious process
At Megalungan Iklim, penjor and gebogan were not pre-arranged decorations. Instead, participants took part directly in creating them together.
In Balinese tradition, penjor symbolizes mountains and prosperity, while gebogan represents gratitude for nature’s harvest, offered back to the Earth and the divine. All materials used came from locally grown Balinese fruits, intentionally supporting local farmers and food systems.
“We chose local fruits so the meaning wouldn’t stop at symbolism,” said Astria, one of the participants. “There is real support for farmers, and a sense of responsibility toward nature.”
Astria dan rekan-rekan membuat gebogan
For participants who had recently moved to Bali, the process became a meaningful learning experience.
“This was our first time making penjor and gebogan. We usually only see them,” said April, Angga, and Deo from Pande. “Through this process, we felt more connected to Balinese culture, not just as observers.”
Beyond making penjor and gebogan, at Megalungan Iklim the crowd enjoyed playing traditional games. One such game was inspired by sabung ayam. Instead of roosters, participants competed using coconuts painted with chicken characters, striking them together until one cracked.
“Whichever coconut breaks first loses,” said one of the MCs while guiding the game. The simple activity offered a playful pause from climate discussions and a reminder that tradition can be celebrated in safe, creative, and joyful ways.
The celebration was further enriched by traditional Balinese dance performed in the heart of the venue. At Megalungan Iklim, art was not presented merely as entertainment, but as a cultural language that reconnects people with nature, ancestors, and shared living spaces.
MSME product exhibition: celebrating growth
Megalungan Iklim also served as a platform for ten MSMEs and startups incubated through the Matangi Bhumi Lestari program, initiated by New Energy Nexus Indonesia in collaboration with INBIS Bali. The exhibition was not simply a product showcase, but a celebration of the long journeys entrepreneurs take to address environmental challenges.
Lukman, founder of Kami Studio, discovered his business direction through hands-on experience.
“Last year, I joined Jelajah Inovasi iklim with New Energy Nexus to Tegalalang,” he shared. “I met the manager of a TPS3R facility and realized that organic waste is one of Bali’s biggest issues.”
With a background in product design and research on alternative materials, Lukman saw an opportunity.
“That’s when I thought, this aligns with what I’ve studied. I can create products from organic waste. That’s how Kami Studio was born.”
Meanwhile, Ethneeq brought a story of waste finding new life. Salsabila from the production team explained how collaboration with hotels shifted their business direction.
“Hotel Mulia Nusa Dua told us they had a lot of textile waste, from towels and bed sheets to robes,” she said. “The materials were still good, but needed renewal.”
Ethneeq now transforms hotel textile waste through redesign and reprocessing.
“These products cannot be used immediately. They require a long process,” Salsabila explained. “Through the Matangi Bhumi Lestari program, we were able to refine our expansion plans.”
Reflecting on Megalungan Iklim, she added, “As an MSME, we need spaces to introduce our products. Building a brand from scratch on our own is not easy. Here, we feel supported.”
Accelerating Bali towards net zero
Reflection continued through a panel discussion titled “Accelerating Bali Net Zero: Innovation, Community, and Real Action.” The session brought together perspectives from government, industry associations, and innovators.
Speakers included I Putu Gatot, Business Incubator Manager of the Bali Provincial Government, Gusti Ayu Kade, Chair of the Bali Solar Panel Association, and Putu Yindy Kurniawan, founder of Volto Sea and Percik Daya Nusantara. The discussion was moderated by Sekar Trisnaning from the Bali Net Zero Emissions Coalition.
Putu Yindy highlighted energy challenges in the marine sector.
“Fishing boats use small engines, so refueling happens frequently. The risk of fuel and oil leaking into the sea is high,” he explained. “Electrification is not only about reducing emissions, but also about keeping the ocean clean.”
He added that the transition opens new economic opportunities.
“Fishermen using electric boats can offer transport services for tourists visiting coral reefs,” he said. “It creates additional income and economic diversification. The challenge is how to scale these solutions and connect them to a broader ecosystem.”
Partnering with startups to support Bali sustainable infrastructure
Megalungan Iklim’s commitment to tangible action was underscored by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Volto Sea and Leastric with BUPDA Intaran Sanur, facilitated by New Energy Nexus Indonesia.
The MoU follows a pilot project installing a Dual-Use Battery Charging Station in Sanur. The station is designed to serve both electric fishing boat engines and land-based electric vehicles, including electric motorcycles. With a single piece of infrastructure, both marine and land energy needs can be addressed.
“This matters because Sanur is both a coastal and tourism area,” said one representative. “Marine and land activities are deeply connected, as are their energy needs.”
Under this collaboration, Volto Sea leads the development and implementation of charging infrastructure for electric boats, while Leastric is piloting a Smart Energy Management System at a hotel in Sanur. The system enables real-time monitoring of energy use, helping businesses understand consumption patterns and manage energy more efficiently.
“With this system, energy use can be monitored and optimized,” explained a Leastric representative. “It’s not just about saving energy, but about transparency and long-term planning.”
Through the MoU, pilot project assets were officially handed over to BUPDA Intaran Sanur to be managed for community benefit. BUPDA holds the authority to develop sustainable business models, including managing and operating the charging station.
The hope is that this project does not end with installation, but becomes the beginning of a long-term process where clean energy is fully integrated into everyday life.
Closing the event with a gentle tune
As evening fell, Megalungan Iklim concluded with a performance by Dialog Dini Hari. Their folklore-inspired songs flowed gently, tune and lyrics centered in social issues, humanity’s relationship with nature, and collective memories often left unheard.
In the quiet atmosphere, the lyrics felt like a reminder that change does not always needed to be loud, but through awareness that grows slowly.
Megalungan Iklim does not offer instant answers. Instead, it creates space to celebrate process, bring good intentions together, and strengthen collaboration. Like Galungan itself, the event stands as a marker that caring for the Earth is part of the good we must continue to uphold.
Written by: Raisha Fatya
Photos: I Gusti Agung / Memora & Raisha Fatya