Sekar Jagat Spa | Nusa Dua, Bali

Balinese New Year, known as Nyepi or Day of Silence, will take place on Tuesday 16 March 2010. Local custom requires that all people in Bali observe a day of silence from 6am on Tuesday 16 March 2010 until 6am Wednesday 17 March 2010. Authorities require that all people in Bali stay indoors, make no noise and switch off all lights for the duration of this period. The Balinese Hindus consider “Nyepi” to be the most important day on the religious calendar and these prohibitions are taken very seriously.

On Nyepi no lights may be lit

Nyepi, the Hindu Day of Absolute Silence, this year from 6 a.m. on 26 March until 6 a.m. on 27 March, marks the dawn of a new year on the Bali-Hindu calender. Hindus are not allowed to turn on lights or light fires, may not do physical activities and cannot travel or take part in entertainment.

Travellers are not allowed to leave the hotel, they have to stay within the hotel’s premises.

Even the International airport will be closed, but air planes will be able to transit for technical landings and for fuel refilling.

Famous ogoh-ogoh monster parades, traditionally on eve of Nyepi, do NOT happen this year due to election campaigns.

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Related links: Bali Calender | Nyepi on Wikipedia | Bali Tourism Board | Nyepi in great detail on Kupu Kupu Barong Blog