Hari Raya Nyepi for Hindu’s in Bali means celebration of the new year (Saka), which is fall once in a year. It is a day of silence, fasting, and meditation. The essential of Nyepi is to purified ‘Bhuwana Agung’ (universe) and “Bhuwana Alit’ (macro & micro cosmos) to attained well-being & happiness in this world & after live. To live a life based on philosophy of ‘Satyam (righteousness), ‘Siwam’ (holiness) & Sundaram (harmony).

Catur Brata Nyepi (Four mandatory religious prohibitions during Nyepi) :
1. Amati Geni : no fire or lighting
2. Amati Karya : no working or do activities
3. Amati lelungaan : no traveling
4. Amati lelanguan : no pleasures or entertainment

These restrictions are done when sunrise until sunrise the next day (24 hours). The effect of these prohibitions is that Bali’s usually bustling streets and roads are empty, there is little or no noise from TVs and radios, and few signs of activity are seen even inside homes. The only people to be seen outdoors are the Pecalang, traditional security men who patrol the streets to ensure the prohibitions are being followed.

Several rites need to be done before the Nyepi Day as follows :

1. Melasti/Mekiyis/Melis

Melasti /Mekiyis/Melis is a procession with aims to purifying all the impureness of human mind, word and behavior and to attained holy water for life. This procession can be done in ocean, lake or any purified springs. For temple that has temple’s effigies and sacred objects escort their objects to nearest ocean, lake or springs.

2. Tawur Agung

Tawur Agung procession aims to restore the balance between ‘Bhuwana Agung’ and ‘Bhuwana Alit’. This procession is done in the morning, noon or afternoon one day before Nyepi Day. Different levels of sacrifice are held for village, district, regency and provinces by sacrificing chickens, duck, dog, goat to the biggest one cow or bull. Many kind of plants are also use as part of the offerings. By using those animal and plants on the ritual, Balinese are motivated to preserve the existence of those animal and plants.

On the same day on sunset time around 5 or 6 PM there will an event called Pengrupukan. Family member will walking around their compound bringing fire torch and make a lot of noise by kulkul (traditional bamboo bell). For village level, villagers will also held a procession with the fire torch and kulkul. Since 1980 this procession also include procession of Ogoh-Ogoh, a giant monster doll, in the form of demon characters as symbol of evil (bhuta). The doll mainly made of bamboo and cement sacks. Before the procession, a ceremony is perform to invite spirits occupy the Ogoh-Ogoh and after the procession another ceremony is held to neutralize the spirits by symbolically burn or actually burn the Ogoh-ogoh.

3. Hari Raya Nyepi

Nyepi Day is a silence and quite day is performed. Nyepi derive from ’sepi’ means silence. The activities in all over the Bali island is stopped for 24 hours. There are four mandatory religious prohibitions called Catur Brata Penyepian that should be followed by common Hindu people in Bali.

4. Ngembak Geni

Ngembak Geni is falls one day after Nyepi Day is the mark of ended of ‘Catur Brata Nyepi’.

5. Dharma Shanti

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). This activity usually done when Ngembak Geni or the day after Ngembak Geni