Bali is known as the one of the exotic island in the world. Its people, culture, heritages and beaches are just glimpses of Bali’s advantage as the sought after holiday destination. Bali is the only place or island in the world which has a famous holiday, named Nyepi Day. Nyepi Day also known as the Day of Silence, New Year of Balinese Hindu. That is commemorated every Isakawarsa (Saka new year) according to Bali”s calendar. In the 2012, it will be on 23 March 2012.
On the Nyepi Day, every Balinese Hindu must make an offering, perform fasting, and refrain from their passions, from 6 am until 6 am the next morning. There are also main prohibitions such as no lighting, no fire, no working, no entertainment or pleasure, no traveling, and for some, no talking or eating at all, no aircraft landing and departing, no activities on the road or everywhere, no shops open, and everybody must stay at home. Only the Pecalang (traditional security) will be seen on the street, because they are patrol on the road and make sure everything going as it should be.
Although Nyepi Day is a Hindu holiday, but in this island all the Balinese residents includes people with other religions, government and tourists from overseas or domestic, must follow the restriction on that day, except perform fasting like Balinese Hindu.
The night before the Nyepi Day, Balinese Hindu performs the Ogoh-Ogoh parade. Ogoh-ogoh is the demonic statue in Balinese Hindu Wayang legend made of bamboo, Styrofoam and other materials in diverse characters as the symbol of vicious, destructive and bad elements. Ogoh-Ogoh will be paraded around the villages, streets, and public areas and subsequently Ogoh-Ogoh will be burned. The process of burning of the Ogoh-Ogoh also called Ngrupuk ceremony.
Interested ? Lets preserve our culture together and be a part of Nyepi Day 2012 !