Nyepi Day or Day of Silence 2017 (The Unique New Year
Celebration on the Island of Bali)
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.
“Bali for me, is not so much
about seeing and doing, there’s plenty to see and do, but feeling the place.”
Traveler
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.”
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
