Bali closed on Nyepi Day, Friday 23 March 2012

On Nyepi day  – the day for meditation and absolute silence in Bali, - which this year falls on Friday, 23 March, the entire island of Bali will be closed for 24 hours to all traffic, including air traffic. In keeping with the strict traditions of the holy day, Bali grinds to an absolute halt form 6:00 a.m. on Friday, March 23 until Saturday, March 24, 2012.

Those wishing to visit Bali on or around that day, please take special notice. 

On the eve of Nyepi, celebrations are held when floats of huge colorful paper demons are paraded through the streets of cities, carried to the beach and torched, making a bright bonfire. Each one then quietly retreats to their respective homes to spend the entire day in silent reflection, free from any noise. Homes may also not have any open fires, nor any lights lit at night.

On this day, no one is allowed on the streets and on the beach, including tourists. Flights to and from Bali will be suspended.

While this may sound eerie, in fact, those that have gone thorugh this absolute quietness of a whole island find it a most exhilirating experience. 

   
Nyepi mandates a day of absolute quietude, based on the four precepts of Catur Brata:

• Amati Geni: Prohibiting the lighting of fires, the use of lighting or the satisfaction of pleasurable human appetites.
• Amati Karya: Prohibiting all forms of physical work other than those dedicated to spiritual cleansing and renewal.
• Amati Lelungan: Prohibiting movement or travel; requiring people to stay within their residences.
• Amati Lelangunan: Prohibiting all forms of entertainment, recreations or general merrymaking.

How this translates into do’s and don’ts for visitors and tourists, www.balidiscovery.com explains the following: The observance of the day is all pervasive and includes:

• The requirement that Bali visitors stay confined within the grounds of hotels for the 24-hour period and not leave the premises, except in cases of medical emergency.
• Hotels are asked to limit outside lighting out of respect to the surrounding Balinese communities.
• Employees of hotels and emergency services must stay confined to their place of employment for the entire 24-hour period.
• All streets are empty and closed. No one is allowed on the roads. All businesses are closed. Only emergency vehicles are permitted.
• All seaports are closed during the 24-hour period.
• Bali’s airport is closed during the 24-hour period. No flights are allowed to land or take off from the airport. Technical stops are allowed but no passenger may disembark or embark on a flight during this period.

Television and radio stations are closed and cable broadcast companies are asked to suspend their signals to Bali during the proscribed period

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