Hari Raya Nyepi is the celebration of the Saka New Year celebrated by Hindus in Bali. Unlike the celebration of the Gregorian New Year which is full of parties and crowds, Nyepi in Bali is colored with a calm and solemn atmosphere. The word “Nyepi” itself comes from the word “sepi” which means quiet or silent.

Nyepi is not just an ordinary New Year's celebration. This holiday has a deep meaning for Hindus, namely as a time for self-introspection, cleansing oneself of all sins and mistakes, and purifying the universe. The purpose of Nyepi is to achieve balance between man and God, man and man, and man and nature.

The Nyepi celebration begins with a series of traditions and rituals, including:

Melasti: A few days before Nyepi, Hindus perform the Melasti ritual, which is a procession of taking sacred objects in the temple to be paraded to the beach or other springs. The purpose is to purify the objects and throw away any impurities or negative energy into the sea.

Tawur Agung Kesanga: On “Pengerupukan” day, the day before Nyepi, the Tawur Agung Kesanga ceremony is held. In the afternoon, in the courtyards of houses as well as intersections and other places, people make ogoh-ogoh, which are giant dolls depicting the bad traits of humans. These ogoh-ogoh are then paraded around the village and burned at night as a symbol of the annihilation of negative traits.

Catur Brata Penyepian: On the day of Nyepi, Hindus observe “Catur Brata Penyepian”, which are four restrictions that must be observed, including:

Amati Geni: Do not light fires or lamps.

Amati Karya: No work.

Amati Lelungan: No traveling.

Observe Food: Not eating and drinking (fasting).

Ngembak Geni: After the Day of Silence has passed, on the day of “Ngembak Geni” or the day of “Forgiveness” all families and relatives gather to forgive each other, and start their activities again.The Day of Silence has a great influence on the lives of Balinese people. During Nyepi, all activities in Bali are stopped. Airports are closed, transportation does not operate, and shops and other entertainment venues are also closed. The atmosphere of Bali becomes very quiet and calm. This moment is used by the community to rest, reflect, and get closer to God. The uniqueness of Nyepi Day is also a tourist attraction for tourists visiting Bali. Many tourists want to experience firsthand the Nyepi atmosphere which is calm and different from New Year celebrations elsewhere. However, tourists must also understand and respect the Nyepi tradition which is sacred to the Balinese people.