 |
When is Hari Raya Nyepi?
|
| Year |
Date |
| 2016 |
March 9th |
| 2015 |
March 21st |
| 2014 |
March 31st |
| 2013 |
March 12th |
| 2012 |
March 23rd |
|
Hari Raya Nyepi is a
Balinese "Day of Silence" that is commemorated every
Isakawarsa (
Saka new year) according to the Balinese calendar (in 2015, it falls on March 21).
It is celebrated on the first new moon after the Vernal Equinox. It
is generally celebrated on the same day as the Indian festival, Ugadi.
Celebrations are centred on Bali and take two forms.
Firstly according to custom, the arrival of Spring is the time of
year when the Lord of Hell sends all the devils to Bali, who must then
be cleared out to purify the island before the new year begins.
run through the streets of villages and towns, with their faces painted, making as much noise as they possibly can.
The evil spirits are driven away by the local people who make
massive papier-mache effigies of the evil spirits called 'Ogoh Ogoh'.
The Ogoh Ogoh are then paraded through towns and villages while people
with their faces painted make as much noise as they possibly can to
scare the monsters away. In the evening the effigies are ceremoniously
burnt, followed by dancing, drinking feasting and generally unabashed
partying.
This noisy, brash festival is then followed by Nyepi, the Balinese
"Day of Silence". Nyepi, marks the start of the New Year and the arrival
of spring. Beginning at 6 am and lasting until 6 am the following day,
Nyepi is a day intended for self-reflection and anything that might
disturb this is not allowed.
This means no cooking or fires, no entertainment, no travelling and no work of any kind is permitted.
This means that the usually busy streets of Bali fall silent and even
though Nyepi is a Hindu festival, non-Hindu residents of Bali will also
observe the day of silence out of respect for their fellow citizens.
Tourists are free to do what they want inside their hotels but nobody
is permitted onto the beaches or streets. The airport in Bali will also
be closed for Nyepi.
The day after Nyepi, is known as Ngembak Geni, and as daily routines
get back to normal, this is a day to perform religious rituals and ask
forgiveness for past deeds to start the new year with a clean slate.
http://www.officeholidays.com/countries/indonesia/hari_raya_nyepi.php
