Bali Nyepi: The Balinese Day of Silence
One of the most distinctive and spiritually sacred practices on the island of Bali is Bali Nyepi. The Balinese Aucklander New Year according to the Saka Calendar is known as the Day of Cessation of Work or Nyepi. While people around the world take to the streets to celebrate the New Year, during Nyepi the islanders observe a cease-fire. On this exceptional day, Balinese customs and rituals reveal their intriguing facets to the outside world.
The meaning of Nyepi apart from the Ancestors
Balinese Nyepi is interpreted as follows: restore balance and purify wholehearted activities. This day is meant for every individual to cleanse his sins or faults and once again to be clean in all aspects. By remaining silent, everyone sees the negative, accepts and helps only the good, and plans happiness for the future. Everybody has a basis for observing the so-called Nyepi holiday - Tri Hita Karana principles, which means taking care of everything: people, nature, and others who dare to join this island's adventure and cultural values.
Why is Nyepi Celebrated by Balinese?
Bali is colorful and active; however, leading to a day of rest and which is Nyepi is a completely unique experience the day before. One of the highlights of the Nyepi perayaan is the Ogoh-Ogoh festival, which features giant plaster statues that are lit on fire in the streets. The statues are thought to depict wicked ghouls and after these statues are paraded and burnt, they are believed to have no further purpose in life as they leave behind the negative forces that come up with them. The procession extends the joy and excitement of celebrating Nyepi and attracts people who live through the beauty and culture of the island.
Perspective of Nyepi
On the island of Bali, if one wished to listen to the sound of a pin-drop Nyepi would be the perfect day. For the duration of the day, the airports, businesses, indeed most all hotels, are closed. The only exceptions are hospitals and emergency services. Not only islanders, but also tourists who come to the island are also supposed to show their respect to the local customs by keeping noise, movement around and other activities which impede the peace of the land to a minimum or doing none of that at all.
Bali Nyepi offers aesthetic beauty preserving the island’s spiritual heritage and staying true to the blend between nature, the gods and humanity. All those, who live in Bali and tourists alike can appreciate all the benefits offered by this silent day upon Bali – the day where social connections and the fuss of the modern world is left behind in the name of self-reflection in the midst of the chaos that is Bali.