In Reply to: Nypie day in Bali posted by dinkee di on Sunday, 4. December 2005 at 07:40 Bali Time:
Nyepi day is balinese New Year and the day leading up to nyepi they have street parades where they parade ogoh ogohs they are like huge monsters which the balinese believe collect the evil spirits and then they burn these ogoh ogoh later. The silent day is just that the night before all shops close down and bali is literally a ghost town not many restaurants open after 10pm. the day of nyepi you are not allowed out of your hotel, the front of the hotel is usually covered with tarps so you can see out or anyone see in. YOU would have to spend the day around the pool or in your room just relaxing, breakfast and lunch are as normal but you have to be very quiet while dining, DINNER is usually an indonesian buffet which is quite expensive for bali standards but its the only thing your gonna get to eat unless you buy provisions and take to your room. They start serving dinner about 4.30pm i think and its usually all done by about 6.15 at the latest as they are not allowed to have ANY lights on to cook or anything else there are usually one or 2 candles in the kitchen towards the end and trust me it is soooooooooo quiet. In your room that night you are only allowed one light and the power is kept at a minimum they dull it anyway and your supposed to keep your curtains drawn so no light goes outside,THE BALINESE HAVE THIS DAY BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THAT ANY EVIL SPIRITS THAT PASS OVER WILL THINK THAT BALI IS UNINHABITATED AND KEEP MOVING ON. Hence the cleansing will be done. The are no motor bikes, cars, NOTHING if you go onto the street you can be arrested by the local banjars. The next day is nearly business as usual not all things are open but most later in the day they have the most amazing markets on KUTA beach which goes for miles on that day and this is worth going to look at its at the end down near Hard Rock Hotel, for some i guess that Nyepi could be an inconvienence but i love it ...its a very spiritual time and i enjoy that solitude so much and to be part of the balinese culture is just fantastic. I am heading to bali just to be part of NYEPI. Hope this helps this is just my version of events and the reasons why as my husband Surya has told me and we have experienced. LIZ