Nyepi 2017 – Shh … ! Silence In Bali … | Atlantis Bali Diving

Nyepi 2017 – Shh … ! Silence In Bali …

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On 28th of March 2017, the new balinese year of the Saka calendar will start : the year 1939 can begin.

This so unusual and unique day succeeds 3 days of very important purification ceremonies called Melasti. The day before what we call the silent day, many offerings are place in the street to exorcise the evil spirits.

During 24 hours, from 6 o’clock in the morning, the island of Gods is totally shut down, turning its so usually animated streets in human desert. It is strictly prohibited to go out from the houses and also to switch on the lights : the evil spirits passing on the island should not be attracted. The ceremony is so sacred that even the international airport of Denpasar closes its doors, no planes take off that day. To repel the demons, several weeks in advance, Balinese people start to make the famous “Ogoh Ogoh” statues that are easy to notice in the streets, even in the smallest remote villages.

The day before Nyepi, balinese people are out in the street and many processions are happening all over the island of Gods. They are carrying the giant statues of Ogoh Ogoh to all the big intersections and then are going towards the beach or river.

Ogoh Ogoh are huge statues made of papier-mâché which measure sometimes more than 4 meters height !

After this animated and noisy night, silence takes place for 24 hours. The next day is a family day called Ngembak Geni.