NYEPI
(Day of Silence)
IS NOT
JUST A RITUAL MEMORIAL
Nyepi is a Balinese "Day of
Silence" that is commemorated every Isakawarsa (Saka new year) according to Bali's calendar
(in 2014, it will be on March 31). It is a day of silence, fasting, and meditation.
The day following Nyepi is also celebrated as New Year
Observed
from 6 a.m. until 6 a.m. the next morning, Nyepi is a day reserved for self-reflection and as such, anything that
might interfere with that purpose is restricted. The main restrictions are: no
lighting fires; 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 TV’s and radio’s, and few signs of activity are seen even inside homes. The only people to
be seen outdoors are the Pecalang,
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 Ngembak Geni, social activity picks up again quickly, as
families and friends gather to ask forgiveness from one another, and to perform
certain religious rituals together.
Rituals
- First, The Melasti Ritual is performed at the 3-4 previous day. It is dedicated to Sanghyang Widhi Wasa and is performed at the beach to respect them as the owner of The Land and Sea. The ritual performed in Pura (Balinese temple) near the sea (Pura Segara) and meant to purify Arca, Pratima, and Pralingga (sacred objects) belongs to several temples, also to acquire sacred water from the sea. For area that are located far from the sea,the ritual was carried out on the lake or river that is The Melasti Ritual is a symbol of respect for the water which serves to purify the body and mind as well as to providing welfare to all beings
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| The Melasti Ritual |
- Second, The Bhuta Yajna
Ritual is performed in order to vanquish the negative elements and
create balance with God, Mankind, and Nature. The ritual also meant to
appease Batara Kala by Pecaruan offering. Devout Hindu Balinese
villages usually make ogoh-ogoh,
demonic statues made of bamboo and paper symbolizing negative elements or
malevolent spirits. After the ogoh-ogoh have been paraded around the
village, the Ngrupuk ritual takes place, which involves burning the
ogoh-ogoh. Bhuta is a sysbol of strength of the two characters that are
good and bad t the same time, a ritual to remind people that there is a
force to be selected and used as needed, bed power should be kept away
even eredicated from the human, specially on the ave of Nyepi day, the
form of this ritual is ogoh-ogoh parade aroud the village, which ended
with the burning of those ogoh-ogoh on the beach.
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| The Bhuta Yajna Ritual |
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| Ogoh-ogoh |
- Third, The Nyepi Rituals
is performed with the following conditions:
- Amati Geni: No fire/light,
including no electricity
- Amati Karya: No working
- Amati Lelungaan: No travelling
- Amati Lelanguan: Fasting and
no revelry/self-entertainment
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| The Nyepi Rituals |
A day after the Bhuta Yadnya ritual, it is believed that the evel spirit
have been far away from the human, which left only the noble qualities, so at
the time of Nyepi the body and the mind are appeased by yoga meditation,
providing opportunities for godlikes qualities to ties of body and mind are
free, free to unite with pure power of universe.
- Fourth, The Yoga/Brata
Ritual starts at 6:00 AM and continues to 6:00 AM the next day. The
goal of spiritual achievement is awareness, awareness is the third
elements among the element of body and soul. Body consist of several
elements that mattually bind themselves to each other where necessary the
axistence of two opposite caracters of positive and negative, and element
of the soul also has such two caracters of devinity and the evil.Spiritual
activities can be started by learning body awareness , followed by
learning of mind awareness that will ultimately transformed into soul and
permanent awareness at the end, and the Nyepi Day is dedicated for
universe awareness activities.
- Fifth, The Ngembak
Agni/Labuh Brata Ritual is performed for all Hindus to forgive each
other and to welcome the new days to come. On this day, Hindu community in
Bali is usually held an impromptu market where people meet with relatives
and neighbors to forgive each other with joy.
- Sixth and finally, The Dharma Shanti Rituals is performed after the Nyepi Day or "Day of Silence.". Community groups or componies often invite religious speaker to provide spiritual enlightenment to equalize the differences between their perceptions that occur in the last year, as well as to talk about the significance of religious and moral teachings and how its implementation in the global life and career.
