NYEPI OR BALI SILENT DAY

Day of the Balinese Hindu Nyepi, Every religion or culture around the world has its own way of defining and celebrating the new year. For example, the Chinese celebrate the Imlek year with “Gong Xi Fat Choy,” as it is known in their language. Moslem societies have their Muharam year, and anyone using the Gregorian calendar celebrates the New Year on January 1st. Nyepi is very important for Hindus on the island of Bali, because Hindus in Bali believe that they worship and keep Gods (manifestations of Ida Sang Hyang Widi Wasa) in their organs, where they receive inspiration and instructions. His instructions for turning a new page in life.

BALINESE HINDU NEW YEAR CEREMONY AND THEY OPEN NEW YEAR WITH DAY OF SILENCE

Count Nyepi Day Calendar

Nyepi is a big holiday for Hindus in Bali; it can be a new year for Hindus because Bali still uses the Balinese calendar system, which has one month for 35 days and Nyepi at the end of the year, which Hindus call Saka year. So, if Nyepi is based on the national calendar, the fall of Nyepi Day will not be the same every year, because the current calendar system uses 30 days as a benchmark to measure the length of one month, whereas Nyepi is calculated using the 35 day calendar. The same thing happens in Bali, but the Balinese use a variety of calendar systems. For business and government purposes, they have adopted the Gregorian calendar. But for the never-ending parade of holy days, temple anniversaries, celebrations, sacred dances, house construction, wedding ceremonies, death and cremation rituals, and other activities that define Balinese life,

They have two different calendar systems. The Pawukon (from the word Wuku, which means week) and Sasih are the first (which is means month). Wuku is made up of 30 items, beginning with Sinta, the first Wuku, and ending with Watugunung, the last. The Pawukon, a 210-day ritual calendar brought over from Java in the 14th century, is a complex cycle of numerological conjunctions that serves as the basic schedule for Bali’s ritual activities. Sasih, an Indian parallel system, is a twelve-month lunar calendar that begins with the vernal equinox and is equally important in determining when to pay homage to the Gods. Westerners celebrate the New Year in style, whereas the Balinese celebrate in silence. This is known as Nyepi Day, or the Balinese Day of Silence, and it occurs on the day following the dark moon of the spring equinox, and it marks the beginning of the Saka Hindu era, which began in 78 A.D.

Nyepi Day Function

Nyepi is a day to create and maintain natural balance. It is based on the story of King Kaniska I of India, who was elected in 78 A.D. The King was well-known for his wisdom and tolerance of Hindu and Buddhist societies. Aji Saka introduced the Saka year to Indonesia during his Dharma Yatra (missionary tour to promote and spread Hinduism). In Balinese society, initiation ceremonies are generally performed on both humans (bhuana alit) and the natural universe during the transition period (bhuana agung). This is due to the Balinese people. Because the transition period is a sensitive thing, an easy time to bring danger or things that are not desirable, an initiation ceremony is required during the transition period. The function of Nyepi Day is a very important moment in which what has been felt, done, and experienced in the previous year is remembered, pondered, and reconsidered. Hindus can learn about their own strengths, weaknesses, and mistakes, as well as future plans that must be implemented. With awareness of all the errors that have been felt, experienced, or committed So, the next day, on Ngembak Geni Day, there is an opportunity to forgive each other.

Before Nyepi Day, there is a ritual process.

The Hindu community in Bali includes people who participate in very complex religious rituals, one of which is the Nyepi ceremony. The Nyepi ceremony, which is held in Bali once a year according to Hindu calendar calculations, contains symbols with very complex meanings. There are stages that must be completed prior to welcoming Nyepi, as well as stages of the Nyepi Day process, which are as follows:

Melasti, Mekiyis, or Melissa (three days before Nyepi)

Melasti is used to cleanse the pratima, arca, or pralingga (statue) with symbols that aid in concentration in order to draw closer to God. The ceremony’s goal is to purify all of nature and its contents, as well as to extract Amerta (the source of eternal life) from the ocean or other water resources (ie lake, river, etc). Three days before Nyepi, all the God effigies from all the village temples are carried to the river in elaborate and colorful ceremonies. They are bathed by the Neptune of the Balinese Lord, the God Baruna, before being returned to their shrines.

Kesanga Tawur (the day before Nyepi)

Every village in Bali holds a large exorcism ceremony one day before Nyepi at the main village crossroad, the meeting place of demons. For carnival purposes, they usually make Ogoh ogoh (bamboo-made fantastic monsters or evil spirits or the Butha Kala). The Ogoh-ogoh monsters represent the evil spirits that surround our environment and must be expelled from our lives. The carnivals themselves take place all over Bali after sunset. The procession is accompanied by bleganjur, Balinese gamelan music. Some are giants from traditional Balinese mythology. Torches illuminate their fangs, bulging eyes, and frightening hair. The procession is usually organized by Banjar’s youth organization, Seka Teruna. Everyone enjoys the carnival when the Seka Teruna plays Ogoh-ogoh. Tawur Kesanga is performed at all levels of society, beginning with the people’s house, in order to create a harmonious relationship between humans and God, humans and humans, and humans and their environments. In the evening, Hindus celebrate Ngerupuk by making noise, lighting torches, and setting fire to the Ogoh-ogoh to drive away the Bhuta Kala, or evil spirits.

Nyepi

On Nyepi day, every street is quiet; no one is going about their normal daily activities. Pecalangs (traditional Balinese security men) are usually in charge of controlling and monitoring street security. Pecalang are dressed in a black uniform and an Udeng or Destar (a Balinese traditional “hat” that is usually used in ceremony). The main task of the Pecalangs is not only to control the security of the street, but also to stop any activities that disrupt Nyepi. There is no traffic, not only cars but also people, who must stay in their own homes. Light is kept to a minimum or turned off entirely, the radio or television is turned off, and, of course, no one works. Even love making, the pinnacle of all leisure activities, is not permitted or even attempted. The entire day is simply filled with the barking of a few dogs and the shrill of insects, and it is a simple long quiet day in this otherwise hectic island’s calendar. On Nyepi, the world is expected to be clean, and everything begins anew, with Man demonstrating symbolic control over himself and the “force” of the World, which is why religious control is required.

Ngembak Geni (the day after Nyepi)

Ngembak is the day after Catur Berata Penyepian, and Hindu societies typically visit to forgive each other and perform the Dharma Canthi. Dharma Canthi are activities such as reading Sloka, Kekidung, and Kekawin (ancient scripts containing songs and lyrics).

As previously stated, the implementation of a series of Nyepi ceremonies, particularly the Pangrupukan ceremony, has profound effects. As a result, the implementation of the Pangrupukan ceremony may increase Hindus’ religious sentiment.

• To cleanse (shrinking) the five maha bhuta elements that comprise the universe, as well as humans, of disturbances and negative influences caused by bhuta.
• For cleansing (insulting) the bhuta at the time, with the goal of removing the bad qualities that he possesses, so that his good nature and strength can be used for the benefit of mankind and the universe.
• To improve the standard of living of bhuta kala and animals used as caru/sacrifice, because bhuta kala and animals have a lower quality of life than humans.
• To carry out the duties prescribed by Hindu religious teachings. The fourth point reveals that the more frequently you perform the ritual, the more ethical rules you will recognize.

Philosophy and Religion Nyepi Holiday

From a religious and philosophical standpoint, Nyepi is intended to be a day of self-introspection to decide on values, such as humanity, love, patience, kindness, and so on, that should be kept forever. Balinese Hindus have many types of celebrations (some sacred days), but Nyepi is perhaps the most important religious day on the island, and the prohibitions are strictly enforced, especially in villages outside of Bali’s southern tourist belt. Hotels are exempt from Nyepi’s strict regulations, but streets outside will be closed to both pedestrians and vehicles (except for airport shuttles or emergency vehicles), and village wardens (Pecalang) will be stationed to keep people away from the beach. So, wherever you are on Nyepi Day in Bali, this will be a good day to stay indoors. Indeed, Nyepi Day has helped to distinguish Bali as a distinct island.