TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Bali Island, that has a 4.3 million population and thousands of tourists, looks quiet and unblemished during the Day of Silence of Nyepi Day that falls on March 28. This is the time when the Hindus commemorate the day of silence by performing the Tapa Brata Penyepian (four Nyepi rituals) for the Saka New Year of 1939.
Throughout Denpasar and Tabanan, the peaceful atmosphere perfectly represents Tapa Brata that is being practiced by the Hindus. Tapa Brata is the four restrictions that they practice during a 24-hour timespan as a form of a self-introspection, starting from Tuesday, 06:00 Central Indonesia Time when the sun rises up until Wednesday, 06:00 Central Indonesia time.
The Tapa Brata ritual includes amati karya (the absence of work or labor), amati geni (no open fire), amati lelungan (no journeys), and amati lelanguan (no pleasurable activities).
The City of Denpasar, tourist destinations, and other Balinese financial centers stood still without the usual daily view of busy traffic. It turns into a peaceful and silent island guarded by groups of Balinese traditional guards known as ‘Pecalang’.
The peace and quiet environment can also be seen at Perum-Perumnas Monang-Maning housing district, which has 2,500 residences from various ethnicities from across Indonesia. They also honor the local customs, which shows the high level of tolerance toward each other.
Meanwhile during Nyepi Day, foreign tourists vacationing in Bali are only allowed to hold any form of activities inside the vicinity of the hotels they are staying at.
The harmonious and peaceful life is a direct visual and spiritual representation of the deal arranged together with the Interfaith and Religious Assembly of Bali Province.
“A collective call that was signed by religious council leaders is acknowledged by the Bali’s Governor, Police, Military, and head branch office of the Religious Affairs Ministry,” says the Head of Information and Public Relations Office of Bali’s Ministry of Religion, I Komang Giriyasa SE Mag.
Pakraman Village Main Assembly (MUDP) of Bali Province, Jero Gede Suwena Putus Upadesa, stated that Bali is the only place where a ritual and religious activity can temporarily close an international scale airport.
“This year’s Nyepi is the 18th time [that Bali] temporarily closes its Ngurah Rai Airport and all the entrances to the Dewata Island since 1999,” Jero said.
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