To mark the start of a new year, people on the island of Bali, Indonesia will have a day of silence, when most activities will stop.
Originating with the purpose of deceiving and driving away evil spirits, Nyepi Day, also known as the Day of Silence according to the Hindu calendar, usually falls in March every year. This year, the Day of Silence will begin at 6:00 a.m. on March 11 and last for 24 hours.
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| Street scene in Bali, Indonesia on Nyepi day 2023. (Source: The Star) |
As the name suggests, on this day all activity on the island comes to a halt. Domestic and international flights are suspended, shops are closed, and the streets are deserted.
All residents stay indoors and turn off the lights. There is no music or entertainment, and people do not talk. Some people do not even eat or drink. The focus on the Day of Silence is reflection and meditation. The only people seen on the streets are usually pecalangs - Nyepi police or security guards patrolling the streets - to ensure that the bans are followed.
According to the Hindu calendar, the Day of Silence marks the beginning of a new year. Before Nyepi, there is a three-day Melasti ceremony. Islanders dress in traditional clothes, bring offerings to temples near the sea to perform purification rituals, wash away the sins of the old year, and bring back holy water from the sea. This is followed by a series of sacrificial ceremonies to pray for peace.
In particular, the Pengrupukan ritual is held at dusk in front of the house. People bang pots and pans, bamboo tubes to create noisy, bustling sounds and light torches made of dry coconut leaves to drive away evil spirits.
Before the Day of Silence, local people organize to make giant ogoh-ogoh demon statues. These are symbols of evil spirits. The ogoh-ogoh models made of bamboo frames and covered with cloth are paraded through the main streets in the evening before the Day of Silence.
After the parade, the statues are burned in cemeteries or displayed in large halls. Sometimes, the beautiful statues are displayed in museums or sold to collectors. The best places to watch the Ogoh-ogoh parade are along the beaches of Kuta, Seminyak, Nusa Dua and Sanur.
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| Ogoh-ogoh parade before the start of the Day of Silence in Bali. (Source: Amusing Planet) |
After Nyepi is Ngembak Geni (Lighting of Fire) day, which is celebrated as a new year's day in Bali.
Fires and electricity are allowed to resume, and Balinese Hindus visit family, neighbors, and gather with friends to perform religious rituals.
Young people in Sesetan village (South Bali) hold the Omed-omedan (Kissing Ceremony) ceremony to celebrate and pray for a lucky new year.
Although Nyepi is a Hindu holiday, non-religious residents and tourists must also follow the rules when visiting Bali.
For many people, the Silent Day experience is a wonderful time to relax, enjoy the quiet, get away from the hustle and bustle of the outside world to read a book or just relax completely at home or in a hotel.
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