Nyepi is a Balinese "Day
of Silence" that is commemorated every Isakawarsa (Saka new
year) according to the Balinese calendar (in 2015, it falls on March 21). It is
a Hindu celebration mainly celebrated in Bali, Indonesia.
Nyepi, a public holiday in Indonesia, is a day of silence, fasting and
meditation for the Balinese. The day following Nyepi is also celebrated as New
Year's Day. On this day, the youth of Bali practice the ceremony of Omed-omedan or
'The Kissing Ritual' to celebrate the new year. The same day celebrated in
India as ugadi.
Nyepi -
Unique in this World
Contrary to several
other cultures all around the world who celebrate the New Year with dynamic and
sparkling festivities, the crowning point of the Balinese New Year 6 day
celebration is a day dedicated to complete silence.
On the 3rd day the entire
Island comes to a standstill, with no scheduled incoming or outgoing flights from
Ngurah Rai airport in Denpasar (DPS).
This day is called Nyepi,
meaning “to keep silent” and falls on the day after the dark moon of the spring
equinox when the day and night are of approximately equal duration.
Hotels are asked to
cover their windows, all shops are closed, all! No light or candle will be lit
in any Balinese home, no cars on the road, no motorbikes, no people. It's
indeed a special experience, not only for the Balinese but also for all the
visitors and tourists that are on Bali during Nyepi Day.
Good to
Know about Nyepi
Nyepi is the most
important and sacred Hindu holiday on Bali and is a general public holiday
in the rest of Indonesia.
The famous ogoh-ogoh parades, where Balinese men (and boys) carry scary creatures of respectable sizes through the streets accompanied by noise and gamelan music is happening on "Nyepi Eve", the evening of the second day after New Year.
Tourists and visitors are welcome to watch the parades, take pictures and witness this unique spectacle. Some of these ogoh-ogohs are actually burnt after the parade.
On the actual day of Nyepi (3rd day of the 6-day festival) the entire Island is "closed". The roads are off limit to all types of motorised vehicles and people on foot! The airport is closed. All grocery, clothes and other types of shops are closed. For tourists and Balinese. Restaurants are closed. The Beach is prohibited. Basically anything other then being indoors is restricted. While indoors the inhabitants must ensure that all audio devices are turned down to a minimum volume. As the day draws to an end and the sun sets, the curtains need to be drawn shut, with minimum light being used in ones living quarter. If an airplane was to fly over Bali, the Island would not be seen. To ensure that all the rules are obeyed local watchmen known as Pecalang (Nyepi Police) are deployed all over the Island.
The famous ogoh-ogoh parades, where Balinese men (and boys) carry scary creatures of respectable sizes through the streets accompanied by noise and gamelan music is happening on "Nyepi Eve", the evening of the second day after New Year.
Tourists and visitors are welcome to watch the parades, take pictures and witness this unique spectacle. Some of these ogoh-ogohs are actually burnt after the parade.
On the actual day of Nyepi (3rd day of the 6-day festival) the entire Island is "closed". The roads are off limit to all types of motorised vehicles and people on foot! The airport is closed. All grocery, clothes and other types of shops are closed. For tourists and Balinese. Restaurants are closed. The Beach is prohibited. Basically anything other then being indoors is restricted. While indoors the inhabitants must ensure that all audio devices are turned down to a minimum volume. As the day draws to an end and the sun sets, the curtains need to be drawn shut, with minimum light being used in ones living quarter. If an airplane was to fly over Bali, the Island would not be seen. To ensure that all the rules are obeyed local watchmen known as Pecalang (Nyepi Police) are deployed all over the Island.
Nyepi
Parade
The evening before
Nyepi day Balinese carry large Ogoh Ogoh through Bali's streets. Already young
kids follow the example of their fathers. The statues are up to 25feet tall and
can be very heavy. With the help of a bamboo grid a large group of men carry
the ogoh ogoh followed by Balinese gamelan musicians.
Nyepi
& Balinese Calender
The start of
"Caka" year - Balinese New Year – is celebrated by the Hindus over a
course of six days, with the ogoh-ogoh parades after sunset of day two and
Nyepi, day of silence, falling on day three.
Nyepi is a day that the Hindu Balinese dedicate completely to connect more deeply with God(Hyang Widi Wasa) through prayer, fasting and meditation with an additional layer of introspection of the Self, to evaluate personal values such as love, truth, patience, kindness, and generosity.
This religious ceremony is bigger and more lavish than any other in the year. There is a myth that, after the boisterous and active celebrations of day 1 and day 2, the Island goes into hiding to protect itself from the evil spirits, fooling them to believe that Bali, enveloped in an atmosphere of complete tranquility and peace, is a deserted Island. This myth dates back to the mythical times of evil spirits, Gods, superheroes and witches.
On the day after Nyepi, known as Ngembak Geni, social activity picks up again quickly, as families and friends gather to ask forgiveness from one another, and to perform certain religious rituals together. Although Nyepi is primarily a Hindu holiday, non-Hindu residents of Bali observe the day of silence as well, out of respect for their fellow citizens.
Nyepi Day like almost all Balinese religious festivals and holy days is always calculated based on the Balinese calendar (Caka or Saka).
Nyepi is a day that the Hindu Balinese dedicate completely to connect more deeply with God(Hyang Widi Wasa) through prayer, fasting and meditation with an additional layer of introspection of the Self, to evaluate personal values such as love, truth, patience, kindness, and generosity.
This religious ceremony is bigger and more lavish than any other in the year. There is a myth that, after the boisterous and active celebrations of day 1 and day 2, the Island goes into hiding to protect itself from the evil spirits, fooling them to believe that Bali, enveloped in an atmosphere of complete tranquility and peace, is a deserted Island. This myth dates back to the mythical times of evil spirits, Gods, superheroes and witches.
On the day after Nyepi, known as Ngembak Geni, social activity picks up again quickly, as families and friends gather to ask forgiveness from one another, and to perform certain religious rituals together. Although Nyepi is primarily a Hindu holiday, non-Hindu residents of Bali observe the day of silence as well, out of respect for their fellow citizens.
Nyepi Day like almost all Balinese religious festivals and holy days is always calculated based on the Balinese calendar (Caka or Saka).
One full year of the
Balinese calendar consists of 12 sasih (Balinese months). Each month (sasih)
consists of 35 days which is usually a complete cicle of one new moon ( dark
moon or Tilem) and one full moon (Purnama).
Nyepi
Rituals
As preparation to
the build-up to Nyepi Day, are a series of rituals conducted in literally every
part of the island.
However, Balinese New Year is celebrated for 6 days with Nyepi - the day of silence, being only one aspect of it. There are several rituals that stand out:
The first is The Melasti (Melis or Mekiis) Ritual which is dedicated to Sanghyang Widhi Wasa and performed 3–4 days beforehand to acquire sacred water from the sea. The ritual is performed in Pura (Balinese temple) near the sea (Pura Segara) and meant to purify sacred objects such as Arca, Pratima, and Pralingga belonging to several temples. Similar rituals are performed at the Balekambang Beach on the southern coast of Malang, East Java, it is the ritual of Jalani Dhipuja.
The second is The Bhuta Yajna Ritual, which is performed one day before Nyepi, in order to vanquish negative elements and create a balance with God, Mankind, and Nature. The ritual is also meant to win over Batara Kala by the Pecaruan offering. Tawur Kesanga and Caru are sacrifice rituals that take place one day before the Nyepi Day.
However, Balinese New Year is celebrated for 6 days with Nyepi - the day of silence, being only one aspect of it. There are several rituals that stand out:
The first is The Melasti (Melis or Mekiis) Ritual which is dedicated to Sanghyang Widhi Wasa and performed 3–4 days beforehand to acquire sacred water from the sea. The ritual is performed in Pura (Balinese temple) near the sea (Pura Segara) and meant to purify sacred objects such as Arca, Pratima, and Pralingga belonging to several temples. Similar rituals are performed at the Balekambang Beach on the southern coast of Malang, East Java, it is the ritual of Jalani Dhipuja.
The second is The Bhuta Yajna Ritual, which is performed one day before Nyepi, in order to vanquish negative elements and create a balance with God, Mankind, and Nature. The ritual is also meant to win over Batara Kala by the Pecaruan offering. Tawur Kesanga and Caru are sacrifice rituals that take place one day before the Nyepi Day.
Different levels of
sacrifice are held at villages and provinces by sacrificing animals such as
chicken, ducks, pigs or even cows and bulls. Various plants and crops are
additionally used as part of the offerings. Devout Hindu Balinese villages
start making ogoh-ogohs about 2 months before Nyepi. These are demonic, giant
statues made of bamboo and paper, symbolizing negative elements or malevolent
spirits. At sunset, between 5-6pm, the ritual of Pengrupukan takes place (ogoh
ogoh parade). At this time the Balinese parade the streets with the ogoh-ogohs,
passionately playing a deafening mixture of the kulkul (traditional bamboo
bell), claxons, gamelan music and drummers music.
The basic idea is to
scare of evil spirits by making unbearable amounts of noise as is humanly
possible. Although these rituals take place over the entire island, one
can experience the best processions either in Kuta, Seminyak, Nusa Dua, Sanur
and other popular beaches. Each village makes at least one spectacular
Ogoh-Ogoh and take pride in the entire process. Areas such as Sanur, Kuta,
Denpasar, Ubud usually hold contests for the best Ogoh-Ogoh. In the evening the
Ogoh-ogohs will be ceremoniously burnt in the main ritual of Ngrupuk, where
they are totally engulfed in flames. The burning of the ogoh-ogoh symbolizes
the eradication of any evil influences in life. This is followed by more
dancing, drinking and feasting in a rather chaotic fashion, all with the aim of
driving evil spirits far away from the Island. Not every ogoh-ogoh will be
burnt these days, so ask the locals whether thier village still follows htis
custom or not.
The third are the Nyepi Rituals. Nyepi Day!
This day is strictly reserved for self-reflection anything that might interfere with that purpose is strictly prohibited. The inner and outer world is expected to be clean and everything starts anew, with Man showing his symbolic control over himself and the "force" of the World, hence the mandatory religious control. Nyepi expects a day of absolute silence, based on the four precepts of Catur Brata: Amati Geni: No fire or light, including no electricity. Prohibition of satisfying pleasurable human appetites. Amati Karya: No form of physcial working other then that which is dedicated to spiritual cleansing and renewal. Amati Lelunganan: No movement or traveling. Amati Lelanguan: Fasting and no revelry/self-entertainment or general merrymaking.
The fourth is the Yoga/Brata Ritual which starts at 6:00 a.m. on the day of Nyepi and continues to 6:00 a.m. the next day. The faithful Balinese spend this day in meditation.
The fifth, is the Ngembak Agni/Labuh Brata Ritual which is performed the day after Nyepi and is the official New Years Day. Ngembak is the day when Catur Berata Penyepian is over and the Balinese Hindus visit families, neighbours and relatives to exchange forgiveness. They also conduct the Dharma Canthi, activities of reading Sloka, Kekidung and Kekawi (ancient scripts containing songs and lyrics). The youth of Bali practice the ceremony of Omed-omedan or 'The Kissing Ritual' to celebrate the new year.
The Sixth are The Dharma Shanti Rituals which as performed after all the Nyepi rituals are finished and is the closure of this very sacred week in the Balinese Calendar.
The third are the Nyepi Rituals. Nyepi Day!
This day is strictly reserved for self-reflection anything that might interfere with that purpose is strictly prohibited. The inner and outer world is expected to be clean and everything starts anew, with Man showing his symbolic control over himself and the "force" of the World, hence the mandatory religious control. Nyepi expects a day of absolute silence, based on the four precepts of Catur Brata: Amati Geni: No fire or light, including no electricity. Prohibition of satisfying pleasurable human appetites. Amati Karya: No form of physcial working other then that which is dedicated to spiritual cleansing and renewal. Amati Lelunganan: No movement or traveling. Amati Lelanguan: Fasting and no revelry/self-entertainment or general merrymaking.
The fourth is the Yoga/Brata Ritual which starts at 6:00 a.m. on the day of Nyepi and continues to 6:00 a.m. the next day. The faithful Balinese spend this day in meditation.
The fifth, is the Ngembak Agni/Labuh Brata Ritual which is performed the day after Nyepi and is the official New Years Day. Ngembak is the day when Catur Berata Penyepian is over and the Balinese Hindus visit families, neighbours and relatives to exchange forgiveness. They also conduct the Dharma Canthi, activities of reading Sloka, Kekidung and Kekawi (ancient scripts containing songs and lyrics). The youth of Bali practice the ceremony of Omed-omedan or 'The Kissing Ritual' to celebrate the new year.
The Sixth are The Dharma Shanti Rituals which as performed after all the Nyepi rituals are finished and is the closure of this very sacred week in the Balinese Calendar.
Nyepi
Dates in the coming years
|
Year
|
Date
|
Caka
Year
|
|
2015
|
Saturday,
21st March
|
1937
|
|
2016
|
Wednesday,
9th March
|
1938
|
|
2017
|
Tuesday,
28th March
|
1939
|
|
2018
|
Wednesday,
9th March
|
1940
|
|
2019
|
Friday,
7th March
|
1941
|
|
2020
|
Wednesday,
23rd March
|
1942
|
|
2021
|
Sunday,
14th March
|
1943
|
|
2022
|
Saturday,
3rd March
|
1944
|
|
2023
|
Wednesday,
22 March
|
1945
|
|
2024
|
Monday,
11th March
|
1946
|
|
2025
|
Saturday,
29th March
|
1947
|
|
2026
|
Thursday,
19th March
|
1948
|
|
2027
|
Monday,
08th March
|
1949
|
|
2028
|
Sunday,
26th March
|
1950
|
|
2029
|
Thursday,
15th March
|
1951
|
|
2030
|
Tuesday,
5th March
|
1952
|
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