Nyepi - Day of Silence at Bali

We went to Bali for a long weekend from Friday March 28 to April 1st. On the way from airport to the hotel, we were surprised to learn that Saturday was the day of silence at Bali, or Nyepi.

Nyepi is a Balinese holiday held every Isakawarsa ("new year") according to the Balinese calendar. The observance includes maintaining silence, fasting, and meditation for Balinese Hindus, starts at 6am . Although Nyepi is a Hindu holiday, non-Hindu residents and tourists are not exempt from the restrictions. Although they are free to do as they wish inside hotels, no one is allowed onto beaches or streets, and the only airport in Bali remains closed for the entire day. Tourists who violate these rules can face deportation.

Nyepi eve is eventful, Nyepi day is really silent!

Walking in the streets at Sanur, Bali, in Friday, we noticed many statues at various locations, by the streets, or in a garage with opening facing the street. The statues were typically of ugly and scaring figures, placed on top of carriers made of bamboo sticks.

These statues are called Ogoh-Ogoh, representing demons, symbolising negative elements, malevolent spirits, or even characters from Hindu mythology. The ogoh-ogoh will be paraded around the the town, on Nyepi eve, i.e. Friday night.

We went to the street where the parade would be held at Sanur Bali. A giant Ogoh-Ogoh was just moved into the street by a group of young man, some wearing white t-shirts, black shorts and bandanas, others black t-shirt, black shorts without bandanas.

The statue was so tall, the utility lines blocked its path. Two men had to use long bamboo sticks to raise the blocking lines every 10 - to 20 meters so the group could move the giant Ogoh-Ogoh segment by segment.

As night fell, more and more Ogoh-Ogoh congregated into the street from different locations with fanfare. They lined up behind the giant Ogoh-Ogoh. Many locals and tourists crowded the street, snapping photos of the Ogoh-Ogohs before the parade started.

Nyepi started at 6am on March 29. It was a sunny day but we were restricted in the hotel. The gate was closed. Fortunately the hotel has a courtyard, which guests could wandering, a small pool. We had a calm and peaceful day on the day of silence at Bali.

the gate to the hotel was locked

Nyepi day was sunny

yard of the hotel

a shrine

offering table