One of Indonesia’s most unique holidays is the Hindu New Year. The Hindu New Year is also known as Hari Raya Nyepi. Hari Raya Nyepi is a day of silence and self-reflection. Hari Raya Nyepi is celebrated on the first day of the Saka lunar calendar. Hindu celebrations in Bali can last for several days.
This year 2023 – Hari Raya Nyepi will be celebrated on Wednesday 22 March.
Three days before the Balinese New Year
There are various rituals that Balinese people observe to celebrate the arrival of the Hindu New Year in Bali. Three days before Hari Raya Nyepi, the Melasti Ritual is observed. The Melasti ritual is performed next to the water in Pura, a Hindu temple. Using sea water, he ritually purifies sacred objects.
THEREFORE the new year
On the Hindu New Year’s Eve in Bali, the Bhuta Yajna ritual is performed by the entire community. This ritual drives negativity and evil from the island and its inhabitants. According to Hindu beliefs, it is the duty of humans to maintain a balance between the gods, the Earth, and humans.
For this ritual, Balinese people create large statues of demons and other evil creatures out of bamboo and paper. These images are known as ogoh-ogoh. Many of the ogoh-ogoh seen in the parades were created by groups of young people from Balinese villages. The most important ogoh-ogoh are usually created by Balinese artisans.
After the ogoh-ogoh are created, they are taken to a large street parade for all the people to see. It is believed that ogoh-ogoh absorbs the negative energy of the spectators and ward off evil spirits. After the parade, the ogoh-ogoh are burned in a large public bonfire. In addition to warding off evil and purifying the Balinese people, the bonfire is also believed to appease Batara Kala, the god of the underworld.
RITUAL AND THE DAY OF SILENCE FOR THE NEW YEAR
On the Hindu New Year’s Day, the Hindus participate in Nyepi rituals. The first aspect of the Nyepi Ritual is known as Amati Geni. Amati Geni declares that no fire or light can be used in Bali on Hari Raya Nyepi. Amati Geni also restricts the use of electricity.
The second method of ritual is Nyepi Amati Karya. According to Amati Karya, no one in Bali can work on Hari Raya Nyepi. The third aspect of Nyepi rituals, Amati Lelunganan, explains that no one can continue Hari Raya Nyepi. The last aspect of the Nyepi Rites is Amati Lelanguan. Amati Lelanguan declares that every person in Bali must fast on Hari Raya Nyepi. Amati Lelanguan also requires people in Bali to refrain from performances.
During the Day of Silence, the people of Bali are expected to reflect on their actions over the past year. Many Balinese people will take this opportunity to rest and think of ways to improve themselves for the coming year. To ensure that all aspects of the Nyepi rituals were followed, the Nyepi policemen roamed the island of Bali. Everyone should stay at the Nyepi rituals in Bali. Because of this, Bali’s airport closes for the day and all guests stay inside or leave the island.
The Day of Silence is a tradition that dates back to some of the earliest years in Balinese history. The Balinese believe that evil spirits are silent for a whole day after great celebrations, as they believe that the island of Bali is inhabited. According to this belief, the spirits will leave the island alone when their ultimate goal is to torture humans.
A DAY OF SILENCE
All Balinese Hindus stay inside their homes, but are not supposed to talk to each other, answer the phone, receive guests, watch TV, listen to the radio or use any media. Lights must not be turned on and fires must not be lit, including a stove for cooking or even lighting a cigarette. They abstain also from eating and drinking, and are not thought to do any work, nor to any activity; Time should be spent in silent meditation or in the shrine of the house or performing merajan prayers. Nyepi is a day of abstinence and introspection to achieve spiritual purification.
HOW NYEPI AFFECTS TOURISTS AND EXPAT RESIDENTS
Visitors and expat residents are not allowed to leave their homes or hotels in Nyepi. The streets were deserted with a few pecalang, community security officers, making sure that Nyepi was properly observed. Only emergency services and hospitals are allowed to operate as usual. He turns off cable television and the internet for the day. All airports and ports are also closed for 24 hours with no arrivals or departures in Nyepi. These restrictions affect tourist plans, so be sure and click to see which day Nyepi falls to prepare – see Indonesian holidays.
THE NEXT DAY
On the morrow Nyepi is called Ngembak Geni. After successfully completing a day of abstinence and purification, people feel very happy and enjoy going out to visit family and friends to ask forgiveness for past mistakes. Balinese Hindus, wherever they live, always try to celebrate Nyepi, but it is on the island of Bali itself that one can feel the unique nature of this holiday.
Nyepi (Balinese New Year) is also determined using the Balinese Caka calendar, with Nyepi falling on the night of the new moon every year around March/April. Therefore, the day for Nyepi changes every year, and there is no constant number of days between each Nyepi, such as Balinese holidays such as Galungan and Kuningan. The day of Nyepi falls in certain years on certain occasions in the cycles of the moon for that year. Whenever the new moon falls between the middle of March and the middle of April, that night will be the night of the exorcism of great actions and the wide islands, while the next day will be a day of the utmost peace and quiet, where everything stops during the day. .
“Listen to the silence, it has so much to say… In silence you find the meaning of life…”
Happy day of silence!
Happy Nyepi Day!
Anja
Co-founder & Owner of Lombok Hospitality Die ®
Whatsapp: https://wa.me/32477296093
Source: Elaboarated and Quoted From Many Source
