Tourists In Bali Must Be Ready To Observe Nyepi Day 

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Tourists in Bali will be acutely aware that something big is happening. The island is buzzing with preparations for the most sacred day of the year, Nyepi.

The Balinese holy day of silence will be observed on Saturday 29th March, and the ceremonies conducted as part of the festival have already started. 

Yesterday, tens of thousands of Balinese Hindus participated in Melasti ceremonies. The ceremony sees worshippers walk from community temples, through to the ocean.

The long procession is part of the purification ritual, the focus of the ceremony is to cleanse the world from sin and bad karma, through acquiring the water of life, known as Tirta Amerta.

The procession is designed as a cleansing ritual ahead of the day of silence which marks a moment of reflection and renewal.

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One of the biggest Melasti Ceremonies is conducted by the Ungasan Traditional Village close to Uluwatu. On Wednesday 26th March, more than 2,000 residents from 15 villages walked over 5.6 km from the Ungasan Village Temple to Melasti Beach.

Once the ceremony was completed, all focus moved to the final preparations before the Ogoh-Ogoh parades that will be held on Friday evening all over the island. Tourists in Bali can’t help but notice the mysterious and monstrous creatures that have been created all over the island over the past few months.

Every year, it seems that that the creations become bigger, bolder, more intense, and more lifelike. 

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Tourists in Bali over the next week should expect to have to make adjustments for business closures, road closures, and additional ceremonial activities happening all over the island.

Though the day of silence is technically observed from 6 am on 29th March until 6 am on 30th March, much of the island will start to close down from midday on 28th March.

Tourists should aim to be ‘in position’ from midday on the 28th of March and cancel any plans to take day trips, or excursions on the 28th, 29th March, and the 30th March too. 

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Tourists are reminded that ATMs are also turned off in stages, starting from midday on 28th March, and won’t be turned on again until 7 am on 30th March, though there are always exceptions and some ATMs are deactivated earlier and turned back on later.

ATMs not only get deactivated but over the holidays frequently run out of cash. Tourists should be mindful to take emergency cash out over the next 24 hours. 

Over Nyepi Day there are four rules that must be obeyed; no light or fire, no transportation, no entertainment, and no working. With this in mind, the Balinese Government has requested that all telecom services be paused for the 24-hour period of Nyepi.

While main electricity will remain available, power should be used on a must-need basis. On Nyepi night, tourists using lights in their accommodation should keep the blinds or curtains closed, and use lamplight where possible.

Tourists should prepare for all telecoms to be down for 24 hours, though WiFi will likely stay available for those whose accommodation providers leave the electricity on.

The Head of Corporate Communications Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, Steve Saerang, has issued a statement regarding phone signal and mobile data connection over the festival. 

Saerang shared “We wish all Hindus in Indonesia a Happy Nyepi Day, and a Happy Eid al-Fitr 1446 H. As a form of respect for local traditions and culture, Indosat will temporarily suspend cellular data services during Nyepi.”

“However, telecommunications services that reach vital objects such as hospitals, police stations, airports, and fire departments will continue to operate for the public interest.”

He added, “We always strive to support the celebration of religious holidays and respect the cultural values and beliefs of the community throughout our operational areas. Indosat hopes that all Hindus can observe Nyepi solemnly and Muslims can celebrate Eid al-Fitr comfortably with family and relatives.”

Road closures and traffic diversions across the island will also come into effect from midday on Friday 28th March as communities prepare for their Ogoh-Ogoh parades.

The Bali Mandara Toll Road will be closed from 11 pm on Friday 28th March and will reopen at 7 am on Sunday 30th March.