Happy New Year in Bali. What a wonderful way to bring in a new year. The new year is celebrated in Bali 24 hours in total silence. It's like a miracle in this hustling, the bustle of the island. But what actually happens. The Balinese day does not begin at midnight as in the west. It starts at dawn and ends 24 hours later, again at dawn. So at 6 am on Nyepi morning, wherever it is, is where they remain during the next 24-hour period. The streets are completely empty, all businesses are closed, and a great silence surrounding the island. Guests must stay in your hotel and can not venture. The 'pecalang' (I have always referred to them as the "temple of police," since one of its main jobs is to direct traffic during the ceremonies of the temple, cremations and other religious activities occupied) are the only people in roads and their jobs during the day is to make sure that no one else is. As impossible as it seems, the airport is closed! Only allow medical evacuations or, heaven forbid, an emergency landing. Scheduled entry or exit of flights were cancelled 100%. During this quiet day, the truly devout fast and meditate. Lighting fires is not permitted, which means that the traditional stoves compounds that normally burn wood for cooking can not be used. Expats with sensor lights in their homes out during sensors tape in preparation for the night. Bali because he wants to take good care of their foreign guests staying with us at hotels, special dispensation is given to hotel staff. They must arrive at their place of work before 6:00 am And also stay on the grounds for 24 hours, but staff is allowed to provide service to guests including making sure they are well fed! Customers may continue to use all the facilities…. After all, only the lack of electricity that night will suffice a culture shock for visitors. But everyone asked for a chat quietly and observe this day with quiet respect. As night falls, the dark takes on a new meaning! ANYWHERE without electricity, many visitors are surprised by how deep darkness can be experienced. Accompanied by total silence (except for the occasional barking of dogs… they never get the message), is impressive. Hotel guests enjoy one last cup of coffee or tea and vehicles to do night. In compounds, families calm their children to sleep, and then meet with them before a night of much-needed rest. The temple police patrol the streets, rebuking the occasional person who dares to have lights and making sure people and the streets are dark and empty… secure. And then it is morning again! At 6:00 am the island returns to its usual activity, the lights continue, cooking fires are lit, workers heading to their jobs. But the tranquility of the last 24 hours also made itself felt. We talk more quietly, we are calm and we are pleased that Nyepi will come again in a year. Instead, the day before Nyepi is a work of extraordinary! And it is very noisy as any normal day. Villages have been preparing huge papier mache demons, ranging from fear of terrible appearance. Petardos heard in the distance. And the Balinese is visiting his family and village temples for prayer. For me, I started the day with prayers at the temple of my house, then at the crossroads of Ubud for prayer with all the people of Ubud, alongside Pura Desa in Ubud, the temple to the family at Saraswati, then The Pura Desa Peliatan. Prisa back to my house to shower and change what was then the sentence in my village Pura Desa Temple, a procession to Pura Dalem deities of all peoples, including the powerful and mystical Barong and then to a banjar Last blessing. The entire village and participated in the closing ceremony of the latter we all returned to our homes for a final ritual. Make noise tremendous beating pots and pans, using a hollow change to hit the ground, knocking bamboo fun-fun, circled the property shouting at the top of our lungs. A torch lit led the way and finally all ended in the driveway where the torch was allowed to burn out accompanied by the hollow and change many offers that had been placed there before. Our house was ready for Nyepi. In Ubud, a grand parade Ogoh-Ogoh, the demons of fear papeir mache, which began about an hour before nightfall. Each village has made its best efforts to make their Ogoh-Ogoh all the fat. And each is a spectacular piece of hand made creativity, splendid in size, color and entirely spectacular demonic appearance. Each of the Ogoh Ogoh needed many strong men to carry it to the village and then to a crossroads in Ubud Ogoh Ogoh were spread and influence and go in circles. Because one of the demons was so enormous power lines that had been raised, resulting in a brief power outage for the entire area! It is a precursor of the darkness that Nyepi experienced during the 24-hour period. At the end of the parade, Ogah Ogah were taken to a central and safe location and afire. All those weeks of work, in flames! And then all scurried home. So why all the noise and activity Nyepi earlier? A central tenet of the Hindu religion is the Balinese balance. Well balanced with is not so good. Everything can not be good without evil as a counterweight. After all, without some evil, everything would be perfect! Impossible! Thus, just as there are good and useful deities, there are also many not-so-good about the spirits that lurk and want to make mischief. So in our homes we are doing everything that noise and burning torches to scare away evil spirits. The Ogoh Ogoh intend to do the same… and certainly are frightening! And finally, Nyepi is quiet and dark, so that it passes Bali evil spirits at this time of year and looking for places to make problems, which I think is the deserted island and simply pass. To maintain a balance, the Balinese worship deities who protect them and the island and respect, recognizing the existence of evil spirits, while trying to scare garbage… and then all quietly settle for 24 hours until they have passed. And states that Nyepi special quiet moment in which each of us can examine ourselves introspective, to ask forgiveness for past misconduct, think about how to be a better person in the next year, and seek guidance to find the 'right track'.
