Bali’s Day of Silence during Nyepi Day celebration. (Bali Travel News)DENPASAR, NETRALNEWS.COM – Bali Province with a population of around 4.3 million people and tens of thousands of foreign tourists in Bali, Tuesday (3/28/2017), looks silent and without pollution when the Hindus perform their ‘Tapa Brata Penyepian’ (Four Nyepi Rituals) for Saka New Year 1939.
The ambiance of Denpasar City and Tabanan Regency today, Hindus shut themselves conducting worship Tapa Brata, that is, the four restrictions that must be performed as well as to introspect for 24 hours from Tuesday at 6.00 am before sunrise until Wednesday (3/29) at 06.00 am.
Tapa Brata Penyepian includes ‘amati karya’ (not work and other activities), ‘amati geni’ (not light fire and electricity), ‘amati lelungan’ (not traveling) and ‘amati lelanguan’ (no indulgence in lust or no entertainment/fun).
Denpasar city, tourist attractions, and other economic centers in Bali which regularly are decorated by traffic jams also changed into a lonely and desolate as island without inhabitants.
Likewise, Monang-Maning resident complex, Denpasar, settlements inhabited by about 2,500 heads of families of various ethnic groups in the archipelago, respected the implementation of Tapa Brata Penyepian with a strong tolerance.
Meanwhile, foreign tourists who were vacationing in Bali, coinciding with the Hindu’s implementation of Penyepian Tapa Brata, were seen to be allowed to carry out activities within the area of the hotels where they were staying.
Life in harmony, harmonious, and alongside one another on a specialized day this time is in accordance with the collective call and agreement among the Interfaith and Religious Council in Bali Province in the successful implementation of Nyepi Day.
“Collective call signed by leaders of religious councils and religious were known to the governor of Bali, Bali police chief, Korem [Military Resort Command] 163/Wirasatya, and the Head Office of the Ministry of Religion,” said Head of Information and Public Relations Office of Ministry of Religion of Bali I Komang Giriyasa SE MAg.
Pakraman Village Main Assembly (MUDP) Head of Bali Province Jero Gede Suwena Putus Upadesa said only in Bali religious and ritual activities managed to close international airport that never happened in any parts of the world.
“Nyepi this time is the 18th time of temporary closing of Ngurah Rai International Airport and all entrances to the Island of Gods since 1999,” he said.