Nyepi - the Balinese Hindu New Year

Today is Nyepi eve. I will explain Nyepi by quoting parts of a well-written explanation of Nyepi from the eco-lodge:

Nyepi is a Balinese holiday based on a story from 78 AD of the spreading of Hinduism from India to Indonesia and the use of the Saka calendar year. In contrast to Westerners, Balinese open their New Year in silence. This is Nyepi Day, the Balinese day of silence. There is preparation for three days prior to Nyepi involving cleaning the temple and taking the effigies of the Gods from the village temples to the river in long and colorful ceremonies, where they are bathed and returned to the temple. One day before Nyepi, all villages in Bali hold a large exorcism ceremony at the main village crossroad, the meeting place of the demons. People make “Ogoh-ogoh” (fantastic monsters or evil spirits) for carnival purposes. The Ogoh-ogoh symbolize the evil spirits in our surrounds which have to be gotten rid of. All Ogoh-ogoh have fangs, bulging eyes, scary hair, some with over-emphasized breasts, all illuminated by torches. At sunset, they process through the streets accompanied by gamelan music. The Seka Teruna, the youth organization of Banjar, play the Ogoh-ogoh. This festival is performed starting in the home, then to the family temple, then the village temple. Later at night, a lot of noise is made, torches are lit and the figures burned to rid lives and environments of evil that have been attracted to the Ogoh-ogoh.

In contrast, on Nyepi day, everything is quiet and still. No one performs any normal daily activities – no traffic of cars, scooters, people. Everyone stays in their houses. Light is only minimal or absent, no TV or radio, no one works. Not even intimate contact is allowed. On Nyepi, the world is expected to be clean; everything starts new. By keeping Nyepi, man shows control over self and the forces of the world. There are Pecalangs, traditional Balinese security, who patrol to stop any activities that would disturb Nyepi. It is a good day to stay indoors.

The day after Nyepi, Ngembsk Geni, Hindus visit to forgive each other and also read ancient religions scripts containing dongs and lyrics.

Nyepi is a unique island holiday. Even though we are observing Nyepi from the hospital, we will get a taste of the day. There were no lights on outside of the hospital in homes, streets. We had to be in the dark at 7pm, only could turn on a small bed light for the nurses. When I turned on the bathroom light, the security shined his light and then called the floor nurse to tell us to put it out. She and I discussed patient safety for a few minutes. Only some businesses opened today, Ngembsk Geni, and traffic is light.