Nyepi, the Balinese New Year Day, is celebrated every year on the day following the dark moon of the spring equinox. This year, it will be 26 March 2009. Nyepi means the day of silence is a celebration in total quietness.
Balinese use many different calendar systems.
They have adopted the Gregorian calendar for business and government purposes. But for the endless procession of holy days, temple anniversaries, celebrations, sacred dances, building houses, wedding ceremonies, death and cremation processes and other activities that define Balinese life, they have two calendar systems. The first is the Pawukon (from the word Wuku which means week) and Sasih (which is means month). Wuku consists of 30 items starting from Sinta, the first Wuku and end up with the Watugunung the last one. The Pawukon, a 210-day ritual calendar brought over from Java in the 14th century, is a complex cycle of numerological conjunctions that provides the basic schedule for ritual activities on Bali. Sasih, a parallel system of Indian origin, is a twelve month lunar calendar that starts with the vernal equinox and is equally important in determining when to pay respect to the Gods.
Westerners open the New Year in revelry, however, in contrast, the Balinese open their New Year in silence. This is called Nyepi Day, the Balinese day of Silence, which 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 day to make and keep the balance of nature. It is based on the story of when King Kaniska I of India was chosen in 78 A.D. The King was famous for his wisdom and tolerance for the Hinduism and Buddhism societies. In that age, Aji Saka did Dharma Yatra (the missionary tour to promote and spread Hinduism) to Indonesia and introduce the Saka year.
The lead upto Nyepi day is as follows:
* Melasti or Mekiyis or Melis (three days before Nyepi)
Melasti is meant to clean the pratima or arca or pralingga (statue), with symbols that help to concentrate the mind in order to become closer to God. The ceremony is aimed to clean all nature and its content, and also to take the Amerta (the source for eternal life) from the ocean or other water resources (ie lake, river, etc). Three days before Nyepi, all the effigies of the Gods from all the village temples are taken to the river in long and colourful ceremonies. There, they have are bathed by the Neptune of the Balinese Lord, the God Baruna, before being taken back home to their shrines.
* Tawur Kesanga (the day before Nyepi)
Exactly one day before Nyepi, all villages in Bali hold a large exorcism ceremony at the main village cross road, the meeting place of demons. They usually make Ogoh-ogoh (the fantastic monsters or evil spirits or the Butha Kala made of bamboo) for carnival purposes. The Ogoh-ogoh monsters symbolize the evil spirits surrounding our environment which have to be got rid of from our lives . The carnivals themselves are held all over Bali following sunset. Bleganjur, a Balinese gamelan music accompanies the procession. Some are giants taken from classical Balinese lore. All have fangs, bulging eyes and scary hair and are illuminated by torches.The procession is usually organised by the Seka Teruna, the youth organisation of Banjar. When Ogoh-ogoh is being played by the Seka Teruna, everyone enjoys the carnival. In order to make a harmonic relation between human being and God, human and human, and human and their environments, Tawur Kesanga is performed in every level of society, from the people's house. In the evening, the Hindus celebrating Ngerupuk, start making noises and light burning torches and set fire to the Ogoh-ogoh in order to get the Bhuta Kala, evil spirits, out of our lives.
* Nyepi
On Nyepi day itself, every street is quiet - there are nobody doing their normal daily activities. There is usually Pecalangs (traditional Balinese security man) who controls and checks for street security. Pecalang wear a black uniform and a Udeng or Destar (a Balinese traditional "hat" that is usually used in ceremony). The Pecalangs main task is not only to control the security of the street but also to stop any activities that disturb Nyepi. No traffic is allowed, not only cars but also people, who have to stay in their own houses. Light is kept to a minimum or not at all, the radio or TV is turned down and, of course, no one works. Even love making, this ultimate activity of all leisure times, is not supposed to take place, nor even attempted. The whole day is simply filled with the barking of a few dogs, the shrill of insect and is a simple long quiet day in the calendar of this otherwise hectic island. On Nyepi the world expected to be clean and everything starts anew, with Man showing his symbolic control over himself and the "force" of the World, hence the mandatory religious control.
* Ngembak Geni (the day after Nyepi)
Ngembak is the day when Catur Berata Penyepian is over and Hindus societies usually visit to forgive each other and doing the Dharma Canthi. Dharma Canthi are activities of reading Sloka, Kekidung, Kekawin, etc.(ancient scripts containing songs and lyrics).
From the religious and philosophy point of view, Nyepi is meant to be a day of self introspection to decide on values, eg humanity, love, patience, kindness, etc., that should kept forever. Balinese Hindus have many kind of celebrations (some sacred days) but Nyepi is, perhaps the most important of the island's religious days and the prohibitions are taken seriously, particularly in villages outside of Bali's southern tourist belt. Hotels are exempt from Nyepi's rigorous practices but streets outside will be closed to both pedestrians and vehicles (except for airport shuttles or emergency vehicles) and village wardens (Pecalang) will be posted to keep people off the beach. So wherever you happen to be staying on Nyepi Day in Bali, this will be a good day to spend indoors. Indeed Nyepi day has made Bali a unique island.
Nyepi Special Package
kutalagoonresort.com
NYEPI PACKAGE 2009
2 NIGHTS 3 DAYS
Enjoy the silent day in the heart of Kuta .................
STANDARD ROOM 850.000
VILLA 1.600.000
Inclusive :
* 2 nights 3 days accommodation
* Daily breakfast for 2 (two) persons
* Welcome drinks upon check in
* Complimentary 2 ( two ) bottles of mineral water per day
* 1 (one) time lunch & dinner on March 26th 2009 for 2 persons
* Free usage of Fitness Center and Sauna
* 10% discount on Food & Beverage at our Restaurant
Conditions :
* Validity March 25 - 27, 2009
* Applicable for Indonesian Citizens, KIM / KITAS holder only
* Additional charge for extra bed Rp 425.000,- (incllude lunch & dinner)
* For reservation Please Contact
+62361 - 75088 ext 420 & 424
email : sales@kutalagoonresort.com
NYEPI PACKAGE AT THE OASIS KUTA (BASED ON STANDARD)
What's included in this package :
* 2 night accommodation in Standard Room
* Welcome drink
* Daily buffet breakfast
* One time buffet lunch on the Nyepi Day
* One time dinner on March 26th, 2009
The package rate is based on per person and valid until Mar 26, 2009
Single OccupancyIDR 1,339,000
Double Occupancy IDR 669,500
at Ocean View FRANGIPANI Villa & Spa 3 Bedroom
Valid from March 25-27, 2009
only USD. 735
The package includes:
- 2 nights stay at Frangipani Villa & Spa 3 Bedroom, maximum 6 persons
- Inclusive Daily breakfast, Daily afternoon tea
- 1X Set lunch in villa
- 1X dinner in villa
- Welcome tropical Fruit
- Complimentary in house laundry service
- Complimentary cooking service
- Stay in Villa with private swimming pool
- 24 hours villa service and security service
- Daily breakfast and afternoon tea served in villa
- Welcome drink & chilled towel upon arrival
- Complimentary mineral water
- In villa check in process
Meliá Bali
Meliá Bali welcomes you to a world of exotic beauty and luxurious comfort. Wander in our magnificent gardens, beside lotus ponds guarded by carved stones gods. Relax on the golden sands of Nusa Dua beach. Bask in the warmth of our staff for whom your comfort is their genuine pleasure. They are offering for Nyepi Package 2009 - valid of stay: 25-28 March 2009.
Bali Holiday - Melia Bali Nyepi Package 2009
Set amongst 25 acres of spectacular lush tropical gardens, with a large lagoon style pool winding gently through the hotel grounds located on the beach in Nusa Dua on the southern Peninsula of the Paradise Island of Bali. Just 15 minutes from the Ngurah Rai Airport.
167 Superior rooms, 197 Deluxe Gardens, 54 Duplex Suite, 26 THE LEVEL Duplex Suites, 30 Family Rooms, 9 Deluxe & Family Suites, 1 Executive Suite—the height of contemporary luxury, highlighted by indigenous teakwood and furnishing with jewel tone accents. 10 private villas are set in a secluded compound away from the rest of the resort, inclusive of a manicured tropical garden, personal plunge pools, outdoor dining environment, luxurious sunken tub and outdoor shower.
A selection of available non-smoking rooms are Superior Room, Duplex Suite, Executive Suite, The Garden Villas, The Level Duplex Suite, Deluxe Suite, Family Suite, Deluxe Garden and Family Room. For reservation for the Nyepi Package you can visit their website [Melia Bali]
