NYEPI - SECULSION DAY One of the two Calendar systems used by Balinese is the Saka (Çaka) – the other one is an informally Calendar system called as Pawukon. Both of the calendar systems are very important for Balinese daily activity, especially to choose the right time the hold on their religious ceremonies. The Saka calendar is a lunar calendar. Each of the 12 lunar months ends on a new moon, called Tilem. The calendar begins the day after the new moon that ends the ninth lunar month (almost always in Gregorian March). The first day of the 10 th lunar month, called Nyepi. |
Nyepi, the seclusion day, is considered to be one of the most important religious day for Balinese Hindu followers. Compared to Gregorian Calendar, Nyepi is similar with New Year's Day. There are, at least, 4 specific moments to be included within the ceremony of Nyepi. A 3 or 4 days before Nyepi, all pretimas, the small statues that serve as receptacles for gods and defied ancestors, are carried with a walking procession to the holy springs or to the sea for symbolic washing. This ritual called Melasti/Mekiyis. A big enclosure of woven coconut leaf mats is assembled at the village crossroads and filled with offering to the evil spirits that always try to interfere with human activities. In the evening all villagers will go worshipping to their village temple to purify themselves therefore they are ready to fulfill the Nyepi's Rituals on the next 3 or 4 day (in some parts of this island Melasti is conducted on 3 days before Nyepi while others do the ritual one day earlier). A day before Nyepi, on the moon, is a time for casting out evil (Mebuubuu Ritual). By the evening, everyone, especially teenagers, is circling around their houses and then goes to the village road and bangs on anything bangable, such as pans, pieces of metal roofing and also bamboo kulkul (traditional instrument usually made of wood or bamboo). Everyone also wave flaming torches as traditional lighting during this event. In this event several huge giant dolls (Ogoh – ogoh) will be carried out all over the village as the people scare away the evil spirits with shouts, din and flames. By the end of the procession at the village cemetery, the Ogoh – ogoh will be burnt to ashes as a symbolic the cremation of evil spirits surround the village. |
Nyepi, the New Year's Day itself, supposed to be a day of silence, prayer and meditation. The Nyepi Rituals is performed with the following conditions: • Amati Geni: No fire/light • Amati Karya: No working • Amati Lelunganan: No traveling • Amati Lelanguan: No activity for pleasure dome Starts from 6 a.m. until 6 a.m. the next morning, Nyepi is a day reserved for self-reflection . The main restrictions are: no lighting fires (and lights must be kept low); no working; no entertainment or pleasure; no traveling; and for some, no talking or eating at all. The effect of these prohibitions is that Bali 's usually bustling streets and roads are empty, there is little or no noise from TVs and radios, and few signs of activity are seen even inside homes. The only people to be seen outdoors are the Pecalangs , traditional security men who patrol the streets to ensure the prohibitions are being followed. Although Nyepi is primarily a Hindu holiday, non-Hindu residents of Bali observe the day of silence as well, out of respect for their fellow citizens. Even tourists are not exempt; although free to do as they wish inside their hotels, no one is allowed onto the beaches or streets, and the only airport in Bali remains closed for the entire day. The only exceptions granted are for emergency vehicles carrying those with life-threatening conditions and women about to give birth. On the day after Nyepi, known as Ngebak Agni/Labuh Brata Ritual is performed for all Hindu's to forgive each other and to welcome the new days to come. All social activity picks up again quickly, as families and friends gather to ask forgiveness from one another, and to perform certain religious rituals together.
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Ogoh - Ogoh
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