Nyepi Day in Bali is a comparable New Year celebration. However, the Balinese calendar is not like anything we know from our gregorian calendar. They have a lunisolar calendar starting every Nyepi with only 210 days. Another contrast is that Bali’s population celebrates the “Saka New Year” as the Day of Silence. During Nyepi, you are invited to meditate and take reflections about what happened this past year. Meaning all of the inhabitants of Bali and its islands abide by a set of local rules.  Civilisation seems to stop for 36 hours in a row. Roads all over Bali are void of any traffic and everybody will remain at home.

This day is one of the most anticipated event and really important in the Balinese beliefs. Many foreigners will see the local rules as restrictions and will decide to avoid it. However, it’s an experience of a lifetime that anyone should experience at least once.

Nyepi day celebration: Bali and its islands Shut Down

On Nyepi Day, the Balinese people follow a very strict prohibition ritual “Catur Brata Penyepian”. Those prohibitions including no fire, no physical activity, no entertainment or travel. Electricity will still run on the main island of Bali, while the Nusa of Penida, Lembongan and Ceningan will be turned in total darkness as soon as the sun goes down.

As no vehicles are allowed outside, except for emergencies, watch patrols are organized by the “Pecalang” enforce the rules of Nyepi, patrolling the streets by day and night in shifts.

Nyepi day and the pecalang road patrols
Ogo-Ogo carried by its team

Preparation for the Ogoh-Ogoh festival

Certainly one of the most expected days of the year for the Balinese Hindu. Entire villages meet in the main streets with massive effigies of mythological beings made in papier-mâché called Ogoh-Ogoh. Traditionally built by groups of youth, this artistic creation, mostly demons, parade in the streets with their intricate shapes.  The purpose is the purification of the natural environment by humans.

In order to be lifted and carried around the village, Ogoh-ogoh figures are standing on a pad. After being paraded on the shoulders of the local men community, those majestic statues will be burnt to ashes as a symbol of self-purification.

Burning ogo-ogo at celebration ending

Before Nyepi day celebration

Before the Day of Silence, traditional ceremonies will start three days prior to the event. Colourful processions known as the Melasti pilgrimages from various village temples all over Bali. During those rituals, every Balinese family will start the evening with blessings from their own house temple all the way to the neighbourhood temple. In order to chase the devils or malevolent forces manifested as the ogoh-ogoh, they will noisily parade in the streets. Firecrackers, bamboo cannon, massive drums will escort those huge caricatural statues.