Bali prepares each year for a total shutdown on the official day of silence known as Nyepi. Nyepi literally means quiet in the Balinese language and is the name given to the day each year when it is a religious obligation of every Balinese Hindu to dedicate an entire day to quiet introspection and spiritual cleansing as he or she embarks on a New Year in the Balinese lunar calendar. Starting from approximately 5 a.m. sometime in March and continuing until 6 a.m. the following day.
Nyepi is observed by the devout through the abstinence from food and drink, human speech, and even the lighting of fires or lamps. As a result, Bali resembles a ghost town throughout this period with all businesses and thoroughfares closed. Traditional village security - Pecalang patrol the island permitting the passage of only emergency vehicles and sternly rebuking neighbors who allow noise or light to be transmitted from their living quarters Nyepi is the day marking the first day of the Balinese Saka calendar and is strictly observed island-wide with a day of absolute silence and meditation, including the shut down for a 24 hour period of the island's airport.
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| Ogah Ogah's are made out of paper mache and represent evil spirits. |
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| Much music is played loudly to awaken the evil spirits to drive them away |
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| Later in the evening all Ogah Ogah's are burned to release and destroy the evil spirits |
Fabulous! I especially like the way that they burn the evil spirits away. Can I do that too?
ReplyDeleteInteresting stuff. How do they make babies and little kids be quiet? I wonder....
ReplyDeleteWe finally get to use all those great photos!!
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