Silent Day in Bali, A Balinese Way to Celebrate New Years in Paradise

Hari Raya Nyepi or Nyepi Day is a very unique tradition in Bali. Nyepi means deserted. Balinese New Year is also called the Saka New Year based on the lunar calendar. Nyepi Day is the Balinese New Year celebrations, which is unique and only in Bali. The Balinese do reflection to improve their lives. Bali quiet atmosphere, without the noise of motor vehicles, without lights and electricity, then Bali was deserted and save energy during the day.

Deserted road on Nyepi in Bali. Image: mydestination.com

Bali, a small island located between Java and Lombok Island, famous for its unique traditions and culture. There is one of the unique traditions that are when the Balinese Hindu Balinese celebrate the Balinese New Year, Nyepi Day or Hari Raya Nyepi. 

This tradition has been going on for hundreds of years, only in Bali. In 2014, this unique tradition, Nyepi Day, will fall on March 9, 2016 starting from 06:00 AM till 06:00 AM on March 22, 2015. To honor this moment of silent, as a tourist you would have to stay in the hotel, and you can enjoy the cozy atmosphere. If you want to feel the atmosphere of this desolate new year, for example, you are brooding about your life for the future, meditation or yoga. You can choose a hotel or villa that provides yoga classes or yoga exercises. You will get a quieter life after enjoying the atmosphere of Nyepi Day in Bali, at this island of paradise.

In this Saka New Year, every year once the Hindus in Bali will halt all activities. Residents of Bali for one day cease all their activities, deserted highways, airports, seaports and transportation services are also not active. All of the businesses, schools and government activities also stopped on this holy day. You only hear the sound of your heart, the birds singing, the sky is blue and the peace of the universe.

The meaning of Nyepi Day

Melasti ceremony one day before Nyepi Day.  Image: Kompas.com.

According to Hinduism Bali on Nyepi Day, the Balinese Hindu community is implementing Tapa Brata which has several meanings, among others, observe geni (not light the fire), observe the work (not perform activities), observe lelungan (not travelling), and observe lelanguan (not have fun). They just stay at home and fasted for one day. In general, they will be meditation, yoga or reading holy books such as the Bhagavad Gita, Mahabharata or other Hindu books.

Ogoh Ogoh parade one day before Nyepi. Image: aacbalitrip.blogspot.com

Meaning of Nyepi Day is supreme Bhuwana cleansing (of the universe), and cleansing Bhuwana alit (or human beings themselves) or purification of macro-and microcosms. The goal is to bring inner and outer well-being and happiness (jagadhita and moksha), the creation of life which is based on satyam (truth), siwam (chastity), and sundaram (harmony / beauty).

If you're in Bali, the day before the feast of Nyepi Balinese performing the ceremony Caru, the natural purification ceremonies large and small nature as mentioned above. In this day is also conducted Melasti ceremony with a parade along the road to the beach. 

Since the last few years has also been conducted in the form of additional events such as parades unique sculpture statue demon, monster and sinister form of sculpture and unique. The statue was paraded by young people in almost every village in Bali. At the end of the event, all the statues are usually burned as a symbol burned all forms of evil and a bad influence on the earth. Places or the parade is not an original part of the ceremony, but it is the creativity of young people in Bali was eventually accepted by the people and government of Bali. The beauty of this event certainly amazes the domestic and international tourists.

Worship in Melasti Ceremony. Image: blog.baliwww.com

 Balinese Hindu community residing in the islands or other areas also celebrate the New Year Saka though not entirely atmosphere Nyepi Day in Bali. Of course, the atmosphere outside Bali Nyepi Day will not be lonely, road remained crowded by vehicles, malls and entertainment venues to stay alive. Nyepi in Bali atmosphere is very quiet and peaceful.

Communities on the island of Bali will turn off the light houses, government buildings and offices, as well as the lights on the highway going to die. There is no activity transportation by land, sea and air. Only officers who have special permits are allowed to cross the street as a hospital employee and a few police officers and the military. Only in Bali international and domestic flights stopped altogether.

The meaning of Nyepi Day for the environment

A day without business activity and other activities, as mentioned above, it has Nyepi Day Giving Earth a day or 24 hours to breathe more freely without interference from pollution. So 24 hours of our earth clean, earth we breathe with relief, no interference from CO2, not interfered by chemical substances.

In this unique feast since hundreds of years the people of Bali has been the prevention of global warming, and now in modern times people accidentally Bali also run a new tradition at the same time as "Earth Hour", "Go Green", "Stop Global Warming" and other modern tradition for 24 hours.

Please visit more about Nyepi in Bali: Silent Day: Green Day in Bali.

If cities and other countries also follow this tradition every year, there will be energy savings, prevention of global warming, the creation of a blue sky, and a variety of positive effects globally. If the world body of the United Nations adopted the traditions of Bali's Nyepi Day, then our planet will breathe easier, all the animals and plants feel more healthy and fresh.

Do you agree one day a year to emulate the Balinese tradition? If the tradition of Nyepi Day, this can be done every year, then we will live in the world and the universe are more civilized, healthy, fresh, less pollution, peaceful and happy. Are you willing to propose this tradition to the government, politician and MPs in your town?