Nyepi Day or Day of Silence 2017 (The Unique New Year Celebration on the Island of Bali)

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Author, Ekarini
Bali is not only about beaches, luxury hotels, spas, and shopping. Bali offers more than just the luxurious. If you missed some of Bali’s magic and Bali’s unique traditions, you should make your next flight reservation. Bali can transport you to a special place you have never experienced before. Bali is a magical island and the only one in this world. It is worth to experience Bali at least once in your lifetime.

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Photo by Banjar's member

 Nyepi is a Balinese "Day of Silence" that is celebrated  every Isaka warsa (Saka new year) according to the Balinese calendar.  This year, it will take place on March 28, 2017. (1939 Isaka warsa)

The New Year celebration that you have never seen anywhere in the world.  Balinese people celebrate the Saka new year with the Bali Day of Silence, a very unique way to celebrate and welcome a new year.  This is an ultimate and quietest day of the year ( silence it means, “ All of the island's inhabitants abide by a set of local rules, which brings all routine activities to a complete halt.”) All roads on the island of Bali will be no traffic and nobody steps out of their homes. 

My suggestion, Nyepi is worth experiencing at least once in a lifetime, especially since the preceding and following days offer rare highlights to behold!

“A Different Kind of New Year Celebration The unique day of silence marks the turn of the Saka calendar of western Indian origin, one among the many calendars assimilated by Indonesia’s diverse cultures, and among two jointly used in Bali. The Saka is 78 years behind the Gregorian calendar, and follows a lunar sequence. Nyepi follows after a new moon.”

Each “Banjar”, a meeting hall where members of the Banjar meeting preparing their best work of arts to present on the Nyepi Eve called Ogoh-Ogoh. The Ogoh-Ogoh are  paper-mâché effigies, they build throughout weeks or months leading up to Nyepi celebration.     Especially Youth groups design and build their mythical figures with intricately shaped and tied bamboo framework before many layers of artwork.   You will also see the contemporary figures and using technology to add new nuance this year.   This artistic works were started in 1980s by young people throughout the island.  This tradition has become an important element on the Nyepi Eve. 

The figures are symbols of evil spirits, they will present as the Ogoh-Ogoh and they will parade around the neighboring village at the end the members of the Banjar mostly youth groups burn those figures as a symbol to drive away evils.  

 Before ‘The Silence’Day, you will see highlighted rituals essentially start three days prior to Nyepi Day.  You don’t want to miss colorful processions known as the Melasti or Mekiis pilgrimages. Pilgrims from many village temples all over Bali convey heirlooms and sacred sacraments on long walks towards the coastlines where extravagance purification ceremonies take place.

 It is one of the best times to capture with your camera “ the iconic Balinese processions in motion, as parasols, banners and small effigies offer a cultural spectacle.”

 On the Saka New Year’s Eve, it is all blaring noise, excitement, and happiness takes place this celebration. “Every Balinese household starts the evening with the blessings of the family temple and continues with a ritual called the Pengrupukan where each member participates in ‘chasing away’ malevolent forces, known as Bhuta Kala, from their compounds – hitting pots and pans or any other loud instruments along with a fiery bamboo torch. These ‘spirits’ are later manifested as the Ogoh-Ogoh to be paraded in the streets.”

 The Nyepi Eve parade usually starts at around 19:00 local time.

The Nyepi (The Day of Silence),

The Whole Island Shuts Down... However, on Nyepi Day, complete calm all over the island. “The Balinese Hindus follow a ritual called the Catur Brata Penyepian, roughly means the ‘Four Nyepi Prohibitions’. These include Amati Geni or ‘no fire’, Amati Lelungan or ‘no travel’, Amati Karya ‘no activity’, and Amati Lelanguan ‘no entertainment’.”

“Some consider it is a time for total relaxation and contemplation, for others, a chance for Mother Nature to ‘reboot’ herself after 364 days of human pestering. No lights are turned on at night – total darkness and seclusion goes along with this new moon island-wide, from 06:00 to 06:00. No motor vehicles whatsoever are allowed on the streets, except ambulances and police patrols and emergencies. As a hotel guest, you are confined to your hotel premises, but free to continue to enjoy the hotel facilities as usual. Traditional community watch patrols or Pecalang/traditional security enforces the rules of Nyepi, patrolling the streets by day and night in shifts.”

Photo from last year

The Day after Nyepi Day,

This day called Ngembak Geni, referred to as Balinese starts a new year with new and fresh and resolution or hope for a better life.   On this day, you should visit the village of Sesetan in southern Denpasar for the Omed-Omedan ritual, roughly known as the ‘festival of smooches’. “This is a much-localized event, pertaining only to Sesetan's Banjar Kaja community. Youths take to the street as water is splashed and sprayed by villagers, and the highlight being two throngs of boys and girls, in a tug-of-war-like scene. Successive pairs in the middle are pushed to a smooch with each shove and push. Interested in experiencing these rare highlights in Bali.”

If you missed out the celebrations at this year's. Plan ahead for next year’s Saka New Year 1940, on March 17, 2018.

Stay tuned for the following years' Nyepi dates:

March 7, 2019

March 24, 2020

March 14, 2021

March 3, 2022

March 22, 2023

 March 11, 2024

March 29, 2025