Nyepi is one of the most important festivals in the Balinese calendar. Our Balinese associate, Dewi, gives you a lowdown on everything you need to know about this sacred day…

What is Nyepi?

Meaning “Silent Day”, Nyepi coincides with the end of the rainy season, and celebrates the start of the new year according to the saka calendar. Lasting for 24 hours, it is an extraordinary day that sees all activity stop and everything fall silent. Shops, bars and restaurants close, all transport ceases, the roads lie deserted and hotel guests are required to stay within the resort grounds. 

This is because it is believed that the evil spirits descend on this day, but upon finding a silent island, they decide that Bali is uninhabited and leave it alone for another year.

Enlighten us on what Balinese do to get ready for the big day?

This year, Nyepi falls on 25 March, and the days leading to it sees a variety of colourful ceremonies.

Three days before Nyepi
My family and I wake up very early in the morning, around 4 am, to take part in purification ceremony called Melasti. This is where locals hold processions in the streets, carrying temple effigies to holy springs or the beaches. The meaning behind Melasti is to wash away suffering and sins, and prevent the destruction of nature, as well as collecting holy water, tirtha amertha, from the sea.

One day before Nyepi
Further ceremonies, known as Tawur Agung Kasanga, are held in town squares and sports grounds throughout the island. Towards the evening around 6 pm, villagers in traditional dress gather on the roads for the ngrupuk march, where young men lift Ogoh-Ogoh (a huge three- to four-metre-high papier mâché monster doll) with poles and walk around the village. 

When it gets dark, “evil spirits” are noisily chased away through the streets before the Ogoh-Ogoh is ceremonially set fire to. 

My village usually hold competition to find the most creative Ogoh-Ogoh. Winner usually gets fresh cash to be utilized for youth social programs for the winning village. 

On Nyepi day
My family and I wake up at 5 am and start to pray, cook, and eat before Catur Brata Penyepian starts at 6 am on this day. Catur Brata Penyepian explains four main areas to avoid on Nyepi day: 

Brata Amati Geni, no fire or light
Brata Amati Lelanguan, not having fun
Brata Amati Lelungan, not leaving the house
Brata Amati Karya, no working 

Nyepi is a time of self-reflection, a time where we try to connect with ourselves and our spirituality. We must practice our patience and control our emotions on this special day. 

The day after Nyepi
When the clock strikes 6 am on the next day, Catur Berata Penyepian is over and we usually visit our relatives and do the Dharma Chanti of reading ancient Balinese scripts of song and lyrics. This is known as Ngembak Geni. After this ritual, we go back to our normal day. 

Nyepi is meant to be a day of self-introspection to decide on values that should kept forever. Balinese Hindus have many kinds of celebrations, but Nyepi is the most important of the island’s religious days and the prohibitions are taken seriously, particularly in villages outside of Bali’s southern tourist belt.

For more information, or to watch these fascinating celebrations, please speak to Dewi or any of The Legian Seminyak, Bali Concierge team.

Photo by NOW Bali