Nyepi is the Balinese New Year, which is calculated according to the Balinese lunar calendar Çaka (Saka), which has its roots in the Shalivahana era in India. In 2017, the year 1939 will come in Bali. Balinese New Year holidays are a serious event for the island. The celebrations last for three whole days. Balinese New Year is part of the Hindu tradition, so it is not celebrated outside of Bali, that is, in the rest of Indonesia.

Day one - Tawur Kesanga ca

ival.

The mo ing of the first day begins with rich offerings to the spirits. Women of the whole family take baskets woven from leaves into the streets and place them in front of their houses. It is believed that evil spirits, having feasted on them, will not enter the house. During the day, ceremonies are held throughout the island, music is played everywhere. And after sunset, parades of homemade monsters Ogo-Ogo (ogoh-ogoh) take place beautifully and noisily. The monsters are usually so huge that they are carried on special stretchers; it takes 10 people to move one small monster, and for very large monsters - a whole crowd of people. These homemade monsters are images of evil demons and gods, as well as all possible vices. At the end of the parade, the monsters must be bu ed. In Balinese Hinduism, this is a symbol that in this way the island will be cleansed of everything bad and demonic. Parades take place in all parts of the island, even in the smallest villages. But the largest and most beautiful parades, with truly huge Ogo-Ogo, take place in the center of Kuta on Legian Street and in the center of Ubud on Jalan Raya Ubud.

Day two - Day of Silence - Day of Nyepi

The day after the ca ival, the most important day of the New Year celebration occurs - this is Nyepi Day, that is, the Day of Silence (or Day of Silence).

On this day, Balinese must abstain from four things:

  • abstaining from any lighting and fire,

  • abstinence from work,

  • refraining from traveling outside your home,

  • abstaining from enjoyable activities.

The fact is that the evil spirits, who were teased the day before during the Ogo-Ogo parade, coming out of the ocean onto the shore, should not see anyone on the streets of the island. The spirits will decide that there is no one there and will leave, leaving the island forever. On this day, no one works or goes out on the streets of the island, restaurants, shops, salons do not work, even the airport does not work! The Day of Silence in Bali lasts from 6 am one day to 6 am the next day. The Balinese themselves must fast, meditate and remain silent during Nyepi Day; and thus prepare for the coming of the new year. But in fact, the Balinese are very much out of their houses. True, no further than your own yard, i.e. They don’t even set foot outside the gate. In villages, neighbors' houses are adjacent to each other and communicate with each other through various passages, and people are happy to visit each other. Tourists and visitors also have to observe the Day of Silence - Nyepi Day - they will also have to stay in villas and hotels the whole day and not go out. You ca

ot make noise or talk loudly and you must maintain silence. Also, in the evening you will not be able to tu on bright lights in the house. At night, the island of Bali plunges into complete silence and darkness and looks completely empty.

Day three - First day of the New Year.

On the third day, all Balinese have a day off and a family day. They attend family temples for ceremonies and visit relatives. Nobody works on this day.

What tourists should do on the Day of Silence:

Feel and understand this unusual tradition. But you will have to stay in hotels or villas all day, stock up on food and everything you need in advance. The staff stays at the hotel, you can use the SPA and spend time in the pool. Nyepi is a Balinese holiday. It is celebrated in Bali, Nusa Penida and Lembongan Island. On the islands of Gili, Lombok and Java this ceremony is not observed. You can leave outside this time, but you must book accommodation in advance, because... hotels are full these days.