When you are planning to travel to Bali during the month of March, you have probably heard or read about Nyepi Day. But what is this exactly?
Nyepi is the Balinese New Year, which represents the turning of the Saka calendar. Unlike many other parts of the world, Bali celebrates the first day of the new year with a day of complete silence.
When does Nyepi Day take place?
Nyepi always takes place during the month of March, but not on a fixed date. It is always celebrated the day after a new moon.
For the following years, Nyepi will take place on the dates below:
- 2019: the 7th of March;
- 2020: the 25th of March;
- 2021: the 14th of March;
- 2022: the 3th of March;
- 2023: the 22nd of March.
The silence starts at 6 am and finishes at 6 am the next day.
What to expect the days before Nyepi?
The days before Nyepi you will see a lot of colourful processions. People will march on the streets in a parade, from temple to temple, carrying parasols, banners and offerings. They will all wear traditional clothes.
The climax of these pilgrimages will take place the night before Nyepi Day, called the Ogoh-Ogoh Festival.
During the weeks leading to Nyepi, the young men of each village (Banjar) come together to create Ogoh-Ogoh’s. These are large paper mache effigies, representing evil spirits.
On the night before Nyepi, these spiritual puppets will be carried around the streets of the village on a bamboo framework. The people will make as much noise as possible, in order to chase the bad spirits away from their community, houses and souls.
In some villages, the Ogoh-Ogoh’s are burnt at the end of the evening, representing the elimination of all negative and bad influences.
On the whole island, the night will end with a big party, with people dancing and drinking on the streets.
How do people celebrate the first day of the new year in Bali?
In huge contrast to the night before on Nyepi Day the whole island will be covered in complete silence and darkness.
The origin of this habit can be found in the old belief that Bali would go into hiding modus. The inhabitants pretended like Bali was a deserted island, to not attract any bad spirits back to the island.
Nowadays it is more considered as a day of (self-)reflection. People will be fasting, praying and meditating. This way they take the time to reflect on their lives and to cleanse their body and spirit.
Which rules to follow on Nyepi Day?
There are 4 Rules/prohibitions that should be followed during Nyepi day, called catur brata penyepian:
- No fire, light or electricity;
- No travel or movement;
- No activity or working;
- No entertainment.
Going outside is strictly prohibited, so the streets and the beaches are off limits. No souvenir shopping in Ubud Art Market nor Canggu Market. Even the airport will be shut down for 24 hours.
Although it is a Hindu holiday, the restrictions also have to be respected by foreigners and people who practice other religions. Exceptions will only be made for ambulance and police, in case of emergencies.
The rules will be enforced by community patrols, called Pecalang. People who don’t respect the restrictions will be punished with a chore, like cleaning the temple.
How will Nyepi Day affect you, as a tourist?
As explained above, visitors should also live by the rules on Nyepi Day.
Since you can’t travel on Nyepi Day, you are obliged to stay in your accommodation. Depending on where you are staying, the rules might be less strict inside your hotel.
At our surf and yoga retreat Pelan Pelan Bali, we want to respect the traditions and will not make any music or turn on the lights. We will only put on some candle light once it gets dark. If the sky is clear, you can admire the night sky and stars like never before.
You can make use of all our facilities, like the pool, the yoga shala and so on, but we will not provide classes or spa treatments.
But don’t worry about getting hungry or thirsty, there will be staff here to prepare food and drinks.
