Nyepi holiday (Balinese New Year) will come soon. Nyepi is the day of silence. Nyepi falls on the day following the dark moon of the spring equinox, and opens a new year of the Saka Hindu era, which began in 78 A.D. Nyepi, is a religious event. Bali is a Hindu society, one that believes in the Karmapala principle, according to which the dynamics of life and of Man's individual fate is set in motion by "action". Man is in the midst of a Samsara cycle of incarnations, each of which is determined by the quality of his actions (karma) in his former existence. His "ideal" is thus to put the system to rest, i.e., to control one's action, and thus to subdue one's "demons". Only in such a way can Man hope to achieve "deliverance" from his cycles of life (moksa) and eventually merge with the Oneness of the Void, the Ultimate
Silence of Sunya.

The agenda of Ubud village for Nyepi (Balinese New Year):

• 11 April 2002: Melasti
  It is the time when all the effigies of the gods from all the village temples have been taken to the river in long and colorful ceremonies. There they have been bathed by the Neptunus of Balinese lore, the god
  Baruna, before being taken back to the shrines of origin. It will start from Ubud crossroad at 18.00. The procession will be held in Campuhan River.
  
• 12 April 2002: Tawur
  It is the time when all village s have held a large exorcist ceremony at the main crossroad, the meeting place of the demons, conducted by the priests.
  It will be held in the main crossroad, Central Ubud, at 09.00.
  
• 12 April 2002: Ogoh-ogoh
  At night all the demons of the Bali world were let loose on the roads in a carnival of fantastic monsters, the Ogoh-ogoh. All children march along the roads and paths with flaming torches and loudly play gongs, as their parents bang bamboo drums or tins around their compound, to arouse all the malingering evil spirits. Some children make continues explosions by lighting some amount of heated kerosene in big bamboo tubes. And, at night all the demons of the Bali world were let loose on the roads in a carnival of the fantastic monsters, the Ogoh-ogoh.
  
• 13 April 2002: Nyepi
  It will start 13 April 2002 at 06.00 and end on 14 April 2002 at 06.00. At this time, the Balinese will do Catur Brata (Four Self Control):
  1.Amati Geni : no fire or lamp
  2.Amati Karya : no activity or physical work
  3.Amati Lelungan : not going anywhere
  4.Amati Lelangguan : no entertainment
  

On Nyepi, all the business infrastructures (including restaurant) will be close. No one can be seen on the road, no vehicle, no light, and nobody can cook. All the guests are expected to enjoy Nyepi on your own hotel and not walk out from their hotel location. If the hotel does not provide food, we hope you can prepare the food one day before 13 April 2002.

• 14 April 2002: Ngembak
  The day after Nyepi that starts after 06.00. All the activities back to normal. The entire business infrastructure will be open.

Happy Balinese New Year
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti Om

*This article is prepared by the Gianyar Chapter of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI).