Nyepi: Bali’s New Year’s Day
New Year Celebrations on the Indonesian Island of the Gods
Bali, home to Hindus, Muslims, Christians, and Chinese, devotes no less than 4 public holidays to New Year's celebrations.
New Year’s Days in Bali
- On 1 January, the Balinese celebrate the Western New Year’s Day (2008)
- On 10 January, Muslims celebrate the Muslim New Year (1 Muharram 1429 H)
- On 7 February, the Chinese celebrate Imlek or the Chinese New Year (Year 2559)
All these celebrations are official holidays in Indonesia.
- Then, on 5 March 2008, the Balinese begin to prepare for Nyepi, the Balinese version of the Hindu New Year’s Day (1929 Saka). The large majority, 90% of the 3.5 million inhabitants of Bali, are Hindu, which makes the Hindu New Year the most important one.
Preparations for Nyepi
- On 5 March (2008), the Balinese celebrate Melasti, Mekiyis or Melis, a Hindu ceremony held 3 days before Nyepi. It is meant to cleanse nature, especially the ocean and other water bodies. Divine effigies are taken out of the temples and long processions carry them to the water for bathing.
- 7 March (2008) is Tawur Agung Kesanga, also in preparation for Nyepi. There are purification ceremonies in all the houses and procession accompanied by gemelan music. At the main crossroad of every village, evil spirits are exorcised by setting fire to large dolls of monsters and demons, called Ogoh-Ogohs. This is also called the Balinese Carnival.
Hari Nyepi: Bali's Day of Silence
On 8 March (2008) it is finally Hari Nyepi. Daily routines and work are dropped, and Nyepi is a public holiday. Leisure activities, even sex, are not permitted. Neither is traffic – cars or pedestrians - and people stay in their homes. During this period, the Hindu majority, who practice Yoga Semedi, observe the Catur Berata Penyepian, meditation and introspection. Lights are turned down.
Most conspicuously, silence reigns over the streets and homes. Unlike Westerners, the Balinese open their New Year in silence. For that reason, New Year's Day is called the Day of Silence. This silence is taken very seriously: the streets are patrolled by pecalangs, traditional policemen dressed in black and wearing a ceremonial hat (an "udeng" or "destar").
As a visitor you are advised to respect this day. It is best to stay inside your hotel. The beaches, where many of the ceremonies take place, are closed off anyway. Also, don’t expect to fly or boat into the island: on Nyepi all points of entry, the seaports and even the airport are closed.
- On 9 March 2008, the day after Nyepi, the Balinese celebrate Ngembak Geni, the end of the rigorous rules of the day before. On this day they visit one another, extend forgiveness to their enemies, and read ancient Hindu scripts.
