Published on : Saturday, March 7, 2015
Embrace the serenity and witness the magic of ‘Nyepi’ – the day of silence – at InterContinental Bali Resort, because the way in which this unique day is celebrated, is something that you will never experience anywhere else in the world.
If you happen to be in Bali on Nyepi Day, which this year falls on Saturday 21st March, you have chosen a very auspicious time to visit the island. Nyepi Day marks the Balinese Saka New Year, and this is the day when the whole island retreats into silence for 24 hours. On this darkest of nights the Balinese Hindus will not cook, work or travel. There will be no flights in or out of Bali on Nyepi Day, shops will remain closed, all streets will be deserted and no lights will be switched on even after the sun has set. For the Balinese, the purpose of the day is to teach control of excess, the idea being to spend the day in quiet contemplation and meditation. Any demons and evils spirits will be deluded into thinking that Bali is deserted, prompting them to leave the island.
Nyepi is perhaps the most important of the Island’s religious days and the prohibitions are taken seriously. Hotels, including InterContinental Bali Resort, are exempt from Nyepi’s rigorous practices but the streets will be closed to both pedestrians and vehicles, except for emergency vehicles. Village wardens known as ‘Pecalang’ will be posted to keep people off the streets and the beach.
If you embrace the experience, you will discover that this unique and wonderful day is pure joy. All you will hear is the birds singing. After nightfall, listen to the frog song and gaze at the stars, unsullied by street lamps, and with no moon, the night sky looks amazing.
The days leading up to Nyepi, meanwhile, are filled with activity. The Balinese Hindus dress in gorgeous traditional costume, and religious objects and the effigies of the gods are taken in long, colourful, lavish processions from all the village temples to sacred springs, rivers, or the sea for purification. Jimbaran Beach is a great place to witness this.
The day before Nyepi is known as ‘Pengrupukan’, and in the evening, exciting street carnival processions take place as the evil spirits are driven away with gongs, drums, cymbals, firecrackers and huge, scary, highly-creative papier-mâché monsters known as ‘Ogoh-ogoh’, with fangs, bulging eyes and scary hair. The ‘Ogoh-ogoh’ parade along the main road in Jimbaran is particularly spectacular.
InterContinental Bali Resort courteously requests your cooperation, understanding and respect of the Balinese culture and tradition. We request that you do not leave the hotel premises or go to the beach from 6 am on 21st March until 6 am on 22nd March 2015 (24 hours).
Embrace the silence!
Tags: InterContinental Bali Resort
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