It doesn’t realize that we have entered the month of March in 2023. which in this month the Balinese people will celebrate Nyepi. From 22 – 23 March, Bali will celebrate one of the most important dates on the Balinese calendar, known as Nyepi, the day of silence. Balinese Hindu ceremonies follow two calendars, the
pawukon calendar (210 days) and the saka calendar (354-355 days). Nyepi marks the first day of the new saka calendar year.
This is a truly special time to be in Bali because on Nyepi the entire island observes a full 24 hours of total stillness. The four main rules of Nyepi, called ‘Catur Brata Penyipian’ (four meditations of silence) are: Amati Geni, no fire and light; Amati Karya, no working; Amati Lelungan: no travelling, Amati Lelanguan, no entertainment. And that is precisely what happens. The airport shuts down, no one must leave their homes, no noise is permitted, and no light must be seen from the outside. This will take place from 6am on 22 March to 6am on 23 March. It is a serene day of tranquillity and at night, with no light pollution, the skies shine bright with stars, especially as it is a new moon.
The eve of Nyepi is also special. It is the observance of Pengrupukan, or the Ngrupuk Parade, where the youth villages of the island parade their ‘ogoh-ogoh’ on the streets. The highlights of the day before Nyepi without a doubt are the Ogoh-Ogoh parades. During sunset (between 5pm and 6pm) the Balinese parade the streets of their village with their gigantic statues, which took them approximately two months (and probably a whole lot of Bintangs) to build. Ogoh-Ogohs are made of bamboo and paper and represent evil creatures. Ogoh-Ogoh are effigies or statues that take the form of demons, witches and ghosts — inspired by the bhuta kala, the lesser demonic forces, and other haunting local folklore. They are incredible and masterful creations. During the parade a passionate but deafening mixture of the kulkul, claxons, gamelan and drum music is played. The idea is to make as much noise as possible to scare away evil spirits.
Parades take place all over the island, but the most famous ones can be observed in the streets of Kuta, Legian and Seminyak. If you’re not one to enjoy a long and loud procession, then check with the reception of your hotel, as many hotels build and parade their own Ogoh-Ogoh as well. In an attempt to put an end to any evil influences in live, the statues are burnt after the parade and this is followed by a great party, whereby Balinese party, drink and feast till late.
The purpose of the ogoh-ogoh statues is to clear and purify the streets of evil and negative forces; said to accumulate at the main crossroads of villages, a kind of exorcism. The best place to watch is in Denpasar, around the ‘Patung Catur Muka Puputan’ statue, as the competition is most fierce amongst the youth; however great parades will be found in central crossroads in most major areas in Bali, from Kuta to Jimbaran to Ubud and Sanur.
Nyepi Day
The most important and sacred Hindu holiday in Bali, Nyepi Day, is also a general public holiday throughout the rest of Indonesia. Nyepi Day is part of the 6 days lasting Balinese New Year celebrations. As opposed to most other cultures in the world, where people often flock to the streets to celebrate the arrival of the new year with music, dance and fireworks, in Bali the streets go empty, and the island turns all dark and quiet. That’s why Nyepi Day is also often referred to as Silence Day.
This unique celebration happens on the 3rd day of Balinese New Year and falls on the day after the dark moon of the spring equinox. On this day the day and night are of equal duration. The name Nyepi means “to keep silence”, and even Ngurah Rai, the international airport of Bali, closes for a whole 24 hours.
So, why are the Balinese spending a long day in complete silence? The reason is that they use this day to connect more deeply with God, through prayer, self-reflection, fasting, and meditation. On this day people shall not work, not eat and not play. Anything that could disturb the connection with God is prohibited. The complete silence is based on the four general rules of Catur Brata: no fire or light, no form of physical working, no movement or traveling, fasting and no entertainment.
But there’s also another story to this unique Day of Silence in Bali. After all the exuberant celebrations of the first two days of Balinese New Year, the island has to go in hiding to protect itself from evil spirits. By observing complete silence and darkness, evil spirits will pass over and either not notice that there’s an island beneath them or believing that it’s a deserted island; either way, they will continue their journey to another place.
Discover the enchanting island of Bali and experience the magic of Nyepi, a serene and unique event that can only be found only in Bali. Take a break from your busy life and unwind during this special time of the year. We have some villa options for you to choose with wide range of choice from 1-16 Bedroom villa in famous area like : Seminyak, Canggu, Jimbaran, Sanur, Ubud, Nusa Dua and many more. Kindly check our villa collections at www.villaglamours.com