On
This year, Nyepi falls on Saturday, 17th March 2018,the exact same day that a large swathe of Indonesia from South Sumatra to Kalimantan, Sulawesi on to the Moluccas in eastern Indonesia will be passed by the rare event of a complete solar eclipse watched by thousands of domestic and international visitors, who come here for the purpose to best observe this planetary event.
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Therefore, travelers planning to fly to or from Bali on or around this date please note: On this day, the entire island of Bali will come to a complete standstill, - or American TV would say: is in “
On the eve of Nyepi, on 16th March, however, celebrations are held with large papier-mache giants, called Ogoh-Ogoh, paraded on the beach accompanied by loud gamelan music. These are then torched and, it is believed, that with the conflagration, any evil spirits that have brought disease and misery to the island during the past year will have also been banished.
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Every culture and religion in the world has its own way to define and celebrate the coming of the New Year. While the Chinese celebrate with drums and cymbals, the Muslims celebrate the first of Muharram, and the world
For, contrary to other cultures that celebrate New Year with vivacious and loud festivities, the pinnacle of Balinese New Year is a day of complete Silence. Hence the name Nyepi, meaning “to keep silent” in the local language, which falls on the day following the dark moon of the spring equinox. Nyepi is a day fully dedicated to
The series of rituals in conjunction with Nyepi, meanwhile, will take place from 3-4 days beforehand with the ritual of Melasti (also called Melis or Mekiis). The ritual is performed at the Pura (Balinese temple) near the sea (Pura Segara) which is meant to purify effigies, Pratima, and Pralingga (sacred objects) belonging to the temples, and acquire sacred water from the sea.
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On Java, meanwhile, a similar ceremony is performed at the Balekambang Beach on the southern coast of Malang, East Java, in the ritual known as Jalani Dhipuja, and at the beautiful Prambanan Temple in the province of Yogyakarta.
One day before Nyepi, on 16th
At sunset at around 5 or 6 pm the ritual of Pengrupukan will take place. This is when the Balinese parade along the streets of their village by holding fire torches and vigorously play the
As the pinnacle of the entire series of rituals, Nyepi or the Day of complete silence will take place on 17th March 2018. As a day that is reserved for meditation and self-reflection, anything that may interfere with that specific purpose is, therefore, strictly prohibited. For Nyepi mandates a day of absolute quiet, based on the four precepts of Catur Brata, namely:
Amati Geni: Prohibiting the lighting of fires, the use of lighting or satisfying pleasurable human appetites.
Amati Karya: Prohibiting all forms of physical work other than those dedicated to spiritual cleansing and renewal.
Amati Lelungan: Prohibiting movement or travel; requiring people to stay
Amati Lelangunan: Prohibiting all forms of entertainment, recreations or general merrymaking.
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The day after Nyepi, which this year falls on 18th March 2018, is called Ngembak Geni. This is when Balinese Hindus visit families,
The best place to watch the parade of
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