"Nyepi": Day of Silence in Bali

Hello everyone. 2 days ago I was in Bali just for Nyepi. A Balinese New Year's Day. I want to feel the silence of Bali in one day. No cars or residents are allowed on the street, and anyone found engaging in any activity of the sort can be arrested. While hotels can operate with electricity, hotel guests are not allowed to leave their hotel. People are prohibited to go outside, only pecalang (Nyepi Police), are allowed to patrol the area and deployed all over the Island. There's no escape at all, even the airports are closed. And I can tell you, It's worth experiencing!

One perfect reason to spend Nyepi is to experience all the rituals that occur in the days before the day of silence.

People waiting fo ogoh ogoh parade on Kartika Plaza Street

The day before Nyepi we were in Kuta Square junction to see "ogoh-ogoh" (large monsters or evil spirits or the Butha Kala made of bamboo). Ogoh ogoh are made to look as terrifying as possible. Ogoh ogoh represent evil spirits. Kuta Square was crowded since sunset. People were waiting, standing and took a seat while waiting ogoh-ogoh passing the street.

 

Ogoh ogoh being moved to the beach where the burning ceremony will be happen

One of the ogoh ogoh

Kids carrying ogoh ogoh accessories

The next day, which is the silence day and the main part of the celebration.
Every street is quiet. There are nobody doing their normal daily activities. Pecalangs will maintain street security and stop any activities that disturb Nyepi. The only activity I can do are swimming and eating. My tips are stock up on your favorite foods and drinks and don't make loud noise or play music. The best of part of my day was the hotel security escorted me to the street and allowed me to take pictures outside.. 

Once a busy Kartika Plaza Street now an empty street

Kartika Plaza Street. Note the Pecalang guarding the street on the right

One of the pecalang patrolling the street.

At night the hotel is very dark, the lights can not go outside the hotel. So the curtain should blocked every lights come out from every room. That is scary actually. But when I look up at the sky. The sky will be full of stars due to the lack of light elsewhere on the island. Once a very hectic island now a quiet and calm island. Which is very cool to experience.

In our high-tech and hectic lives, a day of silence can be rare and surprisingly wonderful. Experiencing Nyepi could be a once-in-a-lifetime chance to participate in a beautiful ritual that combines colorful spectacle and quiet contemplation, and actually it's happen in one of the most beautiful place on earth. And that's priceless.