IN PICS | Know About ‘Nyepi’ — Balinese New Year’s Day Observed With Complete Silence

nyepei

Nyepi is New Year’s day in the Balinese Saka Calendar. The island of Bali turns off all lights and sounds. All traffic, worldly activities are stopped as people meditate in complete silence. Here is the Tawur agung which Hindus perform as a purification ritual to commemorate Nyepi Day. (Photo by Adriana Adie/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Serenity reigns over Bali. This year, Nyepi is being observed today (March 3, 2022). The entire island of Bali comes to a complete standstill. In the post-COVID era, we can understand it as “lockdown” mode. Hindus take part in a Mecaru ceremony as part of the Tawur Agung Kesanga prayer ritual, ahead the day of silence or Nyepi Day at Giri Kusuma temple in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia. (Photo by Adriana Adie/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

The series of rituals associated with Nyepi, take place 3-4 days beforehand — beginning with Melasti (also called Melis or Mekiis). It is performed at the Pura (Balinese temple) near the sea which is meant to purify effigies 'Pratima' and 'Pralingga' belonging to the temples. It involves acquiring sacred water from the sea. Here are the sacred masks are seen during Melasti Ritual prior to Nyepi Day on February 28, 2022 on a beach in Gianyar, Bali, Indonesia. (Photo by Agung Parameswara/Getty Images)

While all regions have their own unique celebrations for their traditional New Year's day, Balinese New Year is a day of complete silence. The name Nyepi, meaning “to keep silent”. Hindus carry out Nyepi (silent) worship at Aditya Jaya Temple, in Jakarta, Indonesia, on March 03, 2022. Photo by Dasril Roszandi/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

For Balinese people, Nyepi is a day dedicated to connect with God through prayers and a day of self-introspection to decide on values, such as humanity, love, kindness, and more. In photo, Hindu devotees pray in a ritual the Tawur Agung Kesanga ahead the day of silence at Giri Kusuma temple in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia on March 2, 2022. (Photo by Adriana Adie/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

All traffic across Bali are stopped, all shops closed. No pedestrian traffic is allowed on the beach or on the streets. At night, all lights will have to be turned off. The streets in Jimbaran, Bali, look quiet on Nyepi Day (March 3, 2022). People do not venture out, other prohibitions include not working, not lighting fires (including lamps), and not partying. (Photo by Keyza Widiatmika/NurPhoto via Getty Images)