Nyepi Hindu Day

Balinese Hindu Nyepi Day, Every religion or culture around the world has their own way of defining and celebrating their new year.

For example, the Chinese have a Chinese New Year, and to celebrate it, they have, as they call it in their own language, "Gong Xi Fat Choy." The Muslim community has its Muharram year, and anyone in the world using the Gregorian calendar celebrates the New Year on January 1st.

The same is true in Bali, but the Balinese use many different calendar systems. They have adopted the Gregorian calendar for business and government purposes. But for the endless processions of holy days, anniversaries, celebrations, sacred dances, house building, wedding ceremonies, death and cremation processes, and other activities that define Balinese life

They have two calendar systems. The first is Pawukon (from the word Wuku, which means week), and the second is Sasih (which means month). Wuku consists of 30 items, starting with Sinta, the first Wuku, and ending with the last Watugunung. Pawukon, a 210-day ritual calendar brought over from Java in the 14th century, is a complex cycle of numerological conjunctions that provides the basic schedule for ritual activities in Bali. Sasih, a parallel system of Indian origin, is a twelve-month lunar calendar that begins with the vernal equinox and is equally important in determining when to pay respects to the gods.

Westerners open their New Year happily, but, in contrast, the Balinese open their New Year in silence. It is called Nyepi Day, the Balinese day of silence, which falls on the day after the dark moon of the spring equinox and opens the new year of the Hindu Saka era, which began in AD 78.

Nyepi is a day to create and maintain the balance of nature. It is based on the story of King Kaniska I of India, who was elected in 78 A.D. The king was renowned for his wisdom and tolerance towards Hindu and Buddhist communities. At that age, Aji Saka did Dharma Yatra (missionary tours to promote and spread Hinduism) to Indonesia and introduced the Saka year.

The period preceding Nyepi is as follows:

1. Melasti, Mekiyis, or Melis (three days before Nyepi)

Melasti is intended to cleanse pratima, statues, or pralingga (statues) with symbols that help focus one's mind to be closer to God. This ceremony aims to cleanse all of nature and its contents and also to take Amerta (the source of eternal life) from the ocean or other water resources (i.e., lakes, rivers, etc.).

Three days before Nyepi, all the statues of the gods from all the village temples are taken to the river in a long and colorful ceremony. There, they were bathed by Neptune, the son of the Balinese god Dewa Baruna, before being brought back to their temple.

2. Tawur Kesanga (the day before Nyepi)

Exactly one day before Nyepi, all villages in Bali hold a big exorcism ceremony at the crossroads of the village's main roads, where demons meet. They usually make ogoh ogoh (fantastic monsters or evil spirits, or Butha Kala made of bamboo) for carnival purposes. The Ogoh-ogoh monster symbolizes evil spirits in our environment that must be removed from our lives. The carnival itself is held all over Bali after sunset.

Bleganjur; Balinese gamelan music accompanies the procession. Some of the giants are taken from classical Balinese knowledge. All have fangs, bulging eyes, and eerie hair and are lit by torches. This procession is usually organized by Seka Teruna, a Banjar youth organization. When Ogoh-ogoh is played by Seka Teruna, everyone enjoys the carnival. To create a harmonious relationship between humans and God, humans and humans, and humans and their environment, Tawur Kesanga is carried out at every level of society, starting with the community's homes. At night, Hindus celebrate Ngerupuk, start making noises, burn torches, and burn Ogoh-ogoh to get Bhuta Kala, the evil spirits, out of our lives.

3. Nyepi

On Nyepi day itself, every street is deserted; nobody is going about their normal daily activities. Usually there is a pecalang (traditional Balinese security guard) who controls and checks street security. The Pecalang wears a black uniform and an Udeng or Destar (a traditional Balinese "hat" usually used in ceremonies).

The main task of the pecalang is not only to control road safety but also to stop any activity that disturbs Nyepi. Traffic is prohibited, including not only cars but also people, who must remain in their own homes.The lights are kept to a minimum or none at all, the radio or TV is turned off, and, of course, nothing else works. Even the ultimate leisure activity, making love, should not be attempted, or even attempted.

The rest of the day is filled with only the barking of a few dogs and the screeching of insects; it is a quiet and long day on this busy island calendar. At Nyepi, the world is expected to be cleansed and everything begins anew, with man demonstrating symbolic control over himself and the "power" of the world, so religious control is required.

4. Ngembak Geni (the day after Nyepi)

Ngembak is the day when Catur Berata Penyepian ends, and Hindu people usually visit each other to forgive each other and do Dharma Canthi. The activity of reading Sloka, Kekidung, Kekawin, and other ancient manuscripts containing songs and lyrics is known as Dharma Canthi.

From a religious and philosophical point of view, Nyepi is intended as a day of introspection to decide on values, for example, humanity, love, patience, kindness, etc., which must be maintained forever. Balinese Hindus have many types of celebrations (some holy days), but Nyepi is perhaps the most important of the religious days on the island, and its prohibition is taken seriously, especially in villages outside Bali's southern tourist belt.

Hotels are exempt from strict Nyepi practices, but streets outside will be closed to pedestrians and vehicles (except for airport shuttles or emergency vehicles) and village wardens (Pecalang) will be posted to guard people on the beach. So wherever you are on Nyepi Day in Bali, it will be a great day to spend indoors. Indeed, Nyepi Day has made Bali a unique island. Before you go on a Bali tour trip, it's a good idea to check the calendar again so it doesn't coincide with Nyepi.

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