Nyepi is a Balinese "Day of Silence" that is commemorated every Isakawarsa (Saka new year) according to the Balinese calendar (in 2024, it falls on March 11). It is a Balinese celebration mainly celebrated in Bali, Indonesia.
Nyepi, a public holiday in Indonesia, is a day of silence, fasting and meditation for the Balinese. The day following Nyepi is also celebrated as New Year's Day.[1][2] After Nyepi, youths of Bali in the village of Sesetan in South Bali practice the ceremony of omed-omedan or 'The Kissing Ritual' to celebrate the new year.[3]
Observed from 6 a.m. until 6 a.m. the next morning, Nyepi is a day reserved for self-reflection, and as such, anything that might interfere with that purpose is restricted. The main restrictions are no lighting fires (and lights must be kept low); no working; no entertainment or pleasure; no traveling; and, for some, no talking or eating at all.
The effect of these prohibitions is that Bali's usually bustling streets and roads are empty, there is little or no noise from TVs and radios, limited access to Internet and few signs of activity are seen even inside homes. The only people to be seen outdoors are the pecalang, traditional security men who patrol the streets to ensure the prohibitions are being followed.
Although Nyepi is primarily a Hindu holiday, non-Hindu residents and tourists are not exempt from the restrictions in Bali. Although they are free to do as they wish inside their hotels, no one is allowed onto the beaches or streets, and the only airport in Bali remains closed for the entire day. Tourists who violate the rules could face deportation.[4]
On the afternoon and evening before Nyepi, accessibility on roads is limited. Many local roads are closed for the parade in the evening, making it difficult to navigate by car or scooter. Most local restaurants close early and many ATMs are switched off with the cash removed until the day following Nyepi.[5]
The indirectly-state-owned consumer communications provider Telkomsel shuts down all internet access, while privately owned ISPs remain operational. Some hotels/resorts choose to shut down WiFi coverage, while others choose to let it remain operational.
Electricity remains operational in Bali, while being shut off in Nusa Penida (2023).
The only exceptions granted are for emergency vehicles responding to life-threatening conditions and women going into labor.[6][7]
On the day after Nyepi, known as Ngembak Geni (Relighting the Fire), social activity picks up again quickly, as families and friends gather to ask forgiveness from one another, and to perform certain religious rituals together. Fires and electricity are allowed again, and cooking of food resumes. Nyepi can be traced as far back as 78 A.D.[8]
Tawur Kesanga, a ritual procession on the eve of Nyepi, celebrated a day before. Children carry lit torches that are used to light bonfires to burn ogoh-ogoh statues.[8][9]
First, the Melasti ritual is performed 3–4 days beforehand. It is dedicated to Sanghyang Widhi Wasa. The ritual is performed in several puras (Balinese temple) near the sea and beaches. It is meant to purify Arca, Pratima, and Pralingga (sacred objects) belonging to several temples, also to acquire sacred water from the sea.[10][11]
Second, the Bhuta Yajna ritual is performed in order to vanquish the negative elements and create a balance with God, mankind, and nature. The ritual is also meant to appease Batara Kala by Pecaruan offering of live animal sacrifice. Around sunset the PengrupukanorNgrupuk[12] ceremony begins in the house compounds with the noisy banging of pots and pans and bamboo tubes along with burning of dried coconut leaf torches to drive out the demons.[13] The Ngrupuk parade is a new phenomenon: it started in Denpasar in the early 1980s.[14]
The last day of the year includes processions of Bhuta (demons, above), followed by Nyepi, the festival of silence.
Most Hindu Balinese villages make Ogoh-ogoh, demonic statues made of richly painted bamboo, papier-mâché, cloth, and tinsel symbolising negative elements or malevolent spirits or even characters from Hindu mythology. After the Ogoh-ogoh have been paraded around the village, they are burned in the cemeteries although many are displayed in front of community halls for another month or more and sometimes even purchased by museums and collectors.
A deserted street on Nyepi day
Third, the Nyepi rituals are performed as follows:[15]
Amati Geni: No fire or light, including no electricity
Amati Karya: No working
Amati Lelunganan: No travelling
Amati Lelanguan: No revelry/self-entertainment
Fourth, the Yoga/Brata ritual starts at 6:00 a.m. and continues to 6:00 a.m. the next day.
Fifth, the Ngembak Agni/Labuh Brata ritual is performed for all Hindus to forgive each other and to welcome the new days to come.[16]
Sixth and finally, the Dharma Shanti rituals are performed after all the Nyepi rituals are finished.[6]
In 2024 the Ogoh-Ogoh parades were cancelled because of the general election being so close to the date of the festival, the regional government fearing that the parade may be used to convey political themes. Only villages, in particular the traditional villages, were allowed to hold the parade.[17]
The festival is related to those observed by Hindus in the Indian subcontinent, although the dates are not the same due to the different calendars. For example, the Hindus of Maharashtra term their new year Gudi Padwa (inMarathi: गुढी पाडवा). The Sindhis, people from Sindh, celebrate the beginning of their calendar year as Cheti Chand. The Manipuris celebrate their new year as Sajibu Nongma Panba. The Hindus of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka also celebrate their new year as Ugadi.
Security is provided by the usual hansip, while the pecalang are redirected into security roles from their usual mundane tasks like traffic coordination to beef up the local security. These two security forces report to local village heads. In 2017, it is reported islandwide that some 22,000 pecalang are taking part for Nyepi.[18] National police also take part, but naturally ultimately report to Jakarta rather than the village or regency level.
^Media, Kompas Cyber (2022-03-01). "4 Pantangan saat Nyepi di Bali" [4 Taboos during Nyepi in Bali]. denpasar.kompas.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2024-03-13.
