New Year’s Eve in the U.S. is usually celebrated with general overindulgence, but in Bali, the holiday — which fell on Thursday in accordance to the Balinese calendar — is marked with silence, fasting, and meditation. Nyepi, as the holiday is known locally, is a Hindu celebration of silence and self-reflection.
Non-Hindus and tourists are asked to stay indoors and turn off the lights as the tourism-driven island halts. Tourist attractions and shops are closed, mobile internet providers suspend non-essential service, and non-emergency road use is forbidden. The Ngurah Rai International Airport said the 24-hour closure was expected to affect 468 flights including 207 international ones.
Elfi Amir, head of the airport authority, said in a statement, “One of the places that are always busy and noisy is the airport, because Hindus must concentrate on their religious activity… the operational of the airport must be halted.”
5 Things to Do in Bali
The airport has since reopened and life has returned to normal after the special day.
While some tourists and non-Hindus may find the day of silence inconvenient, others embrace the holiday. According to Ketut Ardana, the head of a Bali tourism association, “Nyepi is one of the most unique attractions from Bali, tourists actually come because they want to experience it.”
New Year’s Eve in the U.S. is usually celebrated with general overindulgence, but in Bali, the holiday — which fell on Thursday in accordance to the Balinese calendar — is marked with silence, fasting, and meditation. Nyepi, as the holiday is known locally, is a Hindu celebration of silence and self-reflection.
Non-Hindus and tourists are asked to stay indoors and turn off the lights as the tourism-driven island halts. Tourist attractions and shops are closed, mobile internet providers suspend non-essential service, and non-emergency road use is forbidden. The Ngurah Rai International Airport said the 24-hour closure was expected to affect 468 flights including 207 international ones.
Elfi Amir, head of the airport authority, said in a statement, “One of the places that are always busy and noisy is the airport, because Hindus must concentrate on their religious activity… the operational of the airport must be halted.”
5 Things to Do in Bali
The airport has since reopened and life has returned to normal after the special day.
While some tourists and non-Hindus may find the day of silence inconvenient, others embrace the holiday. According to Ketut Ardana, the head of a Bali tourism association, “Nyepi is one of the most unique attractions from Bali, tourists actually come because they want to experience it.”
