Kuningan falls on Saniscara Kliwon Kuningan in the Balinese Pawukon calendar — exactly ten days after Galungan, and the day on which the ancestral spirits who have been visiting their earthly families since Galungan begin their return journey to the spirit world. The word "kuningan" derives from the Balinese word for yellow (kuning), reflecting the colour that dominates the day's ritual objects: yellow glutinous rice, yellow ketupat rice cakes, and yellow flowers used in the morning's offerings. The first hours of Kuningan morning are the most ceremonially intense: families gather at family temples (sanggah) before dawn to make offerings and prayers that bid farewell to their ancestors, and at major temples throughout Bali elaborate processions arrive bearing elaborate penjor poles and tiered offering towers. The mood is bittersweet — the joy of Galungan's reunion is giving way to the parting that Kuningan marks. A distinctive element of Kuningan is the cucur offering: a yellow fried rice cake whose round shape symbolises the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. These are prepared in large quantities by Balinese women the night before, along with nasi kuning (yellow turmeric rice) and the beautifully woven coconut-leaf decorations (tamiang) that adorn shrines during the festival. Kuningan is considered an auspicious day for initiating important projects, and many Balinese families choose this day for ceremonies marking life transitions — tooth filings, weddings, and first-haircuts.