Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Nyepi coming up!

Excited about Nyepi this weekend! (Like getting excited about an upcoming sesshin - this is all from a friend's Facebook Page and she got it from somewhere else). Balinese Nyepi day or “Day of Silence” is an important religious event in Balinese Hindu culture and marks the celebration of the New Year in the Hindu Lunar calendar.
This year Nyepi Day falls on Saturday, 21st March 2015 starting from 6 am until 6 am in the next day. Normal activity in Bali will resume at 6 am on Sunday, 22nd March 2015. A spectacular procedure of ceremonies, parades of “Ogoh-ogoh” (giant monster dolls) and gongs as well as other instruments occur on the Eve of Nyepi, followed by a day of total silence and seclusion.

During the Nyepi Day, the following rules (called Catur Brata Penyepian) will be implemented:
1. NO TRAVELING (AMATI LELUNGAN):
- Ngurah Rai International Airport will be closed
- Nobody is allowed in the streets
2. NO FIRE OR LIGHTS (AMATI GENI):
- If windows are covered, very low candle light once in a while is permitted.
3. NO WORK OR PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES (AMATI KARYA):
- No activities are allowed on the beach
4. NO HAVING FUN/MAKING NOISE (AMATI LELANGUAN):
- The Hindu Balinese fast during this day, however, the hotels are exceptionally exempt from this rule in order to serve the guests
- Trying not to laugh or speak loud even inside the hotels’ rooms.
It is the perfect time to retreat from the hectic world.

We're going to some pre-new Bali year ceremony on the beach tomorrow with Danu and Alice that they say will be most good.  - DC