Bali is a small island in the middle of the Indonesian archipelago, known worldwide as a tourist paradise that is always crowded with local and foreign tourists. However, there is one day a year when all of Bali stops. There are no vehicles on the road, no sounds of music from cafes, and no lights on at night. All is silent. All is quiet. That day is called Nyepi, a Balinese Hindu holiday full of meaning and silence. Nyepi, hari raya umat Hindu Bali yang penuh makna dan keheningan.
What is Nyepi Day?
Nyepi Day is a celebration of the Saka New Year in the Balinese calendar that usually falls in March. Unlike other New Year's celebrations that are synonymous with parties and fireworks, Nyepi is celebrated with complete silence for 24 hours. Starting from 06.00 AM until 06.00 AM the next day.
I felt this firsthand as a writer, when I experienced Nyepi Day for the first time as a non-Balinese. Previously, I only heard stories about Nyepi from friends or saw it on the news. But being directly in Bali during Nyepi was a completely different and memorable experience.
A few days before Nyepi, the atmosphere in the markets and supermarkets started to feel different. Many people - both locals and migrants - start stocking up on food and necessities. I also went shopping and prepared food for the next 24 hours. Not only because the shops were closed, but also because on Nyepi Day, there was to be no activity outside the house, including buying food.
The night before Nyepi, I had the opportunity to witness the Ogoh-Ogoh procession in person. It was an unforgettable experience. That afternoon, the streets began to fill with people preparing to follow or watch the procession. I too stood by the roadside, waiting with curiosity.
Shortly afterwards, from a distance, there was the sound of a gamelan playing, accompanying the appearance of the Ogoh-Ogoh. The giant statues slowly emerge, lifted by the village youth with great enthusiasm. The shapes vary-some resemble scary giants with sharp fangs and bulging eyes, while others resemble unique and impressive fantasy creatures.
I couldn't stop being amazed. Ogoh-Ogoh is not just a statue, but a work of art made with skill, imagination and the collective spirit of the community. It involves a lot of hard work, from designing the shape, making the skeleton, and layering the paper, to colouring it in stunning detail.
But more than that, I began to understand the deep meaning behind the ogoh-ogoh. In Balinese Hindu belief, Ogoh-Ogoh symbolizes Bhuta Kala, which is negative energy and human vices such as greed, anger and hatred. This procession is not just a spectacle, but a symbol of spiritual battle, that before we welcome the new year, we need to face and expel the dark side within ourselves.
After the ogoh-ogoh had been paraded around the village, it was burned. From a distance I saw the fire burning high, burning the symbols of evil to ashes. In my heart, I felt as if I was burning the bad things inside me unfinished anger, disappointment, fear. There was a sense of relief, as well as being ready to welcome the silence of tomorrow with a cleaner heart.
But the next day, everything changed. The usually busy streets were now empty. There was no sound of vehicles. In fact, the sky was bluer than usual, and the air felt unusually fresh. There were no lights on at night, only bright stars in the sky.
I spent the day inside my dorm room, just with myself and my thoughts. No distractions from the outside world. No notifications from my cell phone because the signal was even weaker. In that silence, I began to realize how rarely I actually stop, stop from the routine, from the noise, from the endless demands of life.
That day, I learned not only about Balinese culture, but also about the value of silence. I began to understand why Nyepi is so revered by the Balinese. Not just because of religious teachings, but because silence is healing.
For me, Nyepi is not just a holiday or a prohibition. It is an invitation to meet ourselves, to realize how many things in life we often ignore because we are too busy. That moment of silence made me hear my inner voice more clearly.
From that moment, I felt an emotional closeness to Nyepi. I no longer see it as just someone else's tradition, but as a universal human experience that anyone can feel and understand, no matter where they come from.
Nyepi Day is a clear example of how local traditions can contribute greatly to spirituality, the environment, and social life. In the midst of the never-ending rumbling of the world, Bali teaches us that even silence can be a form of wisdom.
So, if you ever get the chance to be in Bali during Nyepi, don't shy away. Live it. Feel it. Be silent with them. Because in that silence, you might find the most honest voice of yourself.
Created by Dela Novitasari