The horns in the streets, the music in the shops, the hustle and bustle of the construction sites have all come to a standstill in Bali today as the island celebrates its annual day of silence.

It is essentially a celebration of the Balinese New Year, known as Nyepi, during which residents and tourists are traditionally encouraged to stay at home for a peaceful day of self-reflection.

So from 6 am on March 22 and for 24 hours, all shops and services are closed. From the airport to local supermarkets, even to ATMs.

Also, residents and guests of the island every year on such a day cannot have fun, do not work, do not go out and try to avoid even artificial lighting.

Pekalang, a Balinese security group, patrols the streets to make sure everyone, including tourists, follows the rules.

Scaring away evil spirits

The reason the Balinese go into seclusion is because they see Nyepi as a way to prevent any evil spirits from returning. Therefore, in order not to attract negative energy and to accept the purified beginning of the year, they sit quietly at home.

According to the Guardian, many tourists and digital nomads choose neighboring islands.

“I was blown away by how ‘closed’ the island really is,” explained 26-year-old tourist Tsaki Colello, who was looking forward to the day she could focus and meditate at her guest house.

It is noted that Indonesia is a predominantly Muslim country, but the majority of the inhabitants of Bali profess Hinduism.

Source: Guardian