Why is one of the world’s most popular islands completely silent for a day?

Bali, Indonesia is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world. The streets tingle with the sounds of motorbikes and the sound of fun music emanating from local cafes.

However, once a year, the entire island falls silent.

This is Nyepi, the Balinese New Year.

Unlike many other cultures, Balinese Hindus do not celebrate the New Year with fireworks, parties, or drinking.

Instead, they observe Nyepi, or silence. A Balinese Hindu spends his 24 hours from 6 a.m. fasting, meditating, turning off electricity and staying at home with his family.local security was called Pekaran, Patrol the city to make sure no one goes out. There are no cars on the road except for the occasional ambulance. The whole island stops.

Regardless of personal beliefs, everyone who visits during Nyepi will be affected by this holiday. During this period, the airport and all tourist attractions will be closed and hotels will not accept check-ins or check-outs.

Amanda Shirowatka, owner of Viceroy Bali, helps meet the expectations of hotel guests during Nyepi. She pointed out that although the Day of Silence is her day, the days leading up to the Balinese New Year are very popular with visitors because of special rituals that can’t be experienced anywhere else.

What is Nyepi and what does it represent?

The Balinese calendar has 210 days, and Nyepi falls on the day after the new moon in October of the lunar month, which this year falls on March 11th.

The day before Nyepi is Ngurupuk, where a giant monster doll is called. OgoooogoLocal children parade around representing evil spirits. These dolls are made from papier-mâché over several months and are symbolically burned after the parade.

“From a religious and philosophical point of view, Nyepi is a day of self-reflection to reflect on our humanity, values ​​such as love, patience and kindness, which we carry within us throughout our lives. “It should be done,” Professor Wayan said. Ali is an academic director at an international training school and is originally from Bali.

In other words, Ngurupuku is a day to rid one’s body of all noise before welcoming the new year with introspection.

“Traditionally, they go from house to house with torches, making lots of noise and speaking the local language,” Wayan explains. meswi We put spices in every corner of the buildings on our premises and erected “crosses”. tapakdala Made from white limestone at the foot of our home shrine. ”

Although the majority of Indonesians are Muslim, Bali is an exception in that it is primarily Hindu. Although Hinduism originated in India, Balinese Hinduism has a variety of customs and practices. Hindu holidays such as Holi and Diwali are not as popular on the island as they are on Nyepi.

What are visitors like during Nyepi?

Jero Manku Tindi is the Resort Manager at Viceroy Bali. A native of the island, he enjoys the opportunity to educate others about the beliefs and customs of his culture.

He and Viceroy Shirowatka collaborate on a special annual Nyepi package to help guests understand and participate in the ceremony.

Tindi and his team will be speaking with guests ahead of Nyepi and inviting them to nearby villages to join in the Ngurupuku celebrations.

Viceroy’s website has banned Nyepi from its reservations calendar (guests who arrive before the holiday can stay but cannot check in or start new reservations on the same day) and have banned Nyepi from tourists’ reservations in advance of their trip. Provides information.

Visitors are not allowed to leave their hotels or rental apartments in Nyepi. If you want to spend the day like a local, you can choose to avoid electronics and modern technology. Viceroy is offering three meals a day and keeping its pool, spa and gym open for guests who want to take advantage of the restaurant’s closure. Wi-Fi is still connected.

“We respect our culture, but we also respect our guests,” Tindi says. “They are not of the same religion as us, which means our hotels are still open as usual.”

In Ngurupuku’s case, team members drive interested guests to nearby villages in golf carts. In addition to the Ogo Ogo parade, you can also witness fire play, a dramatic ritual in which local men light coconut shells and throw them at each other.

Some travelers plan to come to Bali specifically for Nyepi to witness or participate in the holiday, but some end up coming to Nyepi unexpectedly. There are some too.

American freelance writer Margot Biggs was in the latter category. When she booked her 2019 vacation, she didn’t know about this holiday or the regulations surrounding it, but her hotel in Ubud contacted her via email to let her know about Nyepi and what might or might not happen on that day. She says he explained it to her.

“I might not plan a trip around Nyepi,” Big says. This is a beautiful tradition that we can all benefit from practicing for our own mental and spiritual health. ”

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