It is the most beautiful day of the year here in Bali.
Don’t worry, The Bali Sun readers, we are all at home, screen-free and observing this holy day of silence, but we thought it only right to share a final update with our readers in case they’ve just arrived on the island and are not sure what is happening right now.
Today, 19th March 2026, is Nyepi Day in Bali. This is the most spiritually important day of the year, and marks the turning of the traditional Balinese calendar. Nyepi Day, also known as the holy day of silence, is a 24-hour period when all becomes still.
There is no movement of people or transport, no talking, music, or noise, no light, no use of electricity or power, and no fun or entertainment. This sacred day is honoured by all in Bali, including non-Balinese Hindu Indonesian residents, international residents, and tourists.
Last night, Bali came alive with the raucous and chaotic noise of the Ogoh Ogoh Parades. For anyone arriving in Bali for the first time in the last couple of days, this could have been a little shock to the system – welcome to Bali! This is how we do things around here! Proud of our culture and a place where tradition is a living and breathing part of everyday life, you have picked the best time of year to visit!
From Denpasar to Lovina, Canggu to Uluwatu, Ubud to Amed, and every village in between, Bali was alive with the Pengerupukan ceremonies, also known as the Ogoh Ogoh Parades. During these ceremonies, whole villages come together to run the ferocious Ogoh Ogoh through the streets to clear away bad karma, pent-up anger, frustration, and negative energy that has built up over the year, ahead of the day of silence when all harmony is restored and comes back into balance.
These Ogoh Ogoh are all made by hand by local community members and often take more than four months to design and build. Typically, Ogoh Ogoh are made using natural materials such as bamboo, clay, and paper.
Though some of the larger statues are reinforced with metal skeletal structures, the use of lights and animatronic technology is increasingly adopted by those with the budget. Ogoh Ogoh competitions are held around the island, though some communities and designers have opted not to take part to keep the focus on the Pengerupukan ceremony as a ritual and act of worship.
In Ubud, the most impressive Ogoh Ogoh was the Mayan Butcher. Created by the Banjar Kebon Kaja community, “The Butcher of Maya” depicted a fearsome supernatural being who had witnessed every human action, particularly those affecting the surrounding environment. The Ogoh Ogoh was created to serve as a symbolic boundary between the physical and spiritual worlds, acting as an invisible watchdog over human actions that often disrupt the balance of nature.
Speaking to reporters, Wayan Nik Adi Astika confirmed that the Mayan Butcher stands approximately 4.70 meters tall. The project cost an estimated IDR 25 million (approximately USD 1,000). Despite featuring a single central figure, the work’s strength lies in the depth of its meaning and message, not simply its sheer number of visual elements.
Astika noted that although the community did not take part in the competition this year, they hope that by taking a year off from the competitive element of the cultural event, they can be back even bigger and better than ever next year.
Astika concluded, “Thank God, this is an evaluation for us. Going forward, we will further refine our concept and plans so we can participate in the Gianyar Regency-level competition in 2027.”
As Bali remains in silence today, tourists in Bali are reminded that they are obliged to stay inside until 6 am on Friday, 20th March. For this, staying in villages, it will be possible to hear the gong being sounded from the Banjar tomorrow morning. Tourists are reminded that this evening, it is best to keep lights off and observe the darkness (and the stars!), though keeping low lights for safety is acceptable.
Rahajeng Rahina Nyepi x
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Steve bmi
Friday 20th of March 2026
The whole island dose not honour neypi day. Many Muslim over the island totally ignore nyepi it's only in the tourist areas it's heavily policed. Our family certainly follow neypi to the maximum in North bali my son is part of the ogoh ogoh parades in desa's
Randy
Monday 30th of March 2026
@Steve bmi, I had to ask around in regards to your biased generalization. Nyepi day and Eid celebration fall on different day this year even I am not physically in Bali during that period, I know as much. According to local officials, sermons cannot be on loud speakers and but they be carried on within the confinement of respective Mosques in Bali. They have given the Muslims to observe their fasting and religious duties. That’s what Unity in diversity is all about for which many Westerners do not seem to grasp. So far no problems in people following the rules on Nyepi day for those who have different religions except two foreigners who broken the rule on Nyepi day.
There are many Javanese workers of all trades working in Bali because Javanese Muslims work and do not skip days or have family obligations like the daily or weekly rituals and traditions that Balinese Hindu may have at the temples. Once or twice a year some Javanese may go home to Java for religious celebrations. In essence of the holidays, things may be disrupted as the Javanese have gone home. Nonetheless Indonesia is the only sovereign nation that celebrates different religious public holidays. Unity in diversity.
Randy
Monday 30th of March 2026
@Steve bmi, please don’t spread misinformation or make generalization. Heard the same bullsheet each year. LOL.
Just because you may be married to a local Hindu that you are freely to bash Muslims now in general ??? Only foreigners want to divide the Unity in its local people right or wrong. They have lived side by side for generation and speak the same BAHASA.
Most Muslims left Bali for the eid holidays. Those Javanese Muslims are construction workers and other trades in Bali. You should be thankful that Bali’s economy keeps moving along and without them lazy local Balinese people would not do much and the economy may be stagnant. Those Balinese Hindus who have worked overseas or worked as a crew member on holiday ships saved up their earnings to start up businesses and buy land in Bali. I know some of them and I am impressed, one or two can even speak French or Russian.