Nyepi: A different way of celebrating New Year

Author: Unknown AuthorDate: 2021-04-16

Nyepi is a Balinese "Day of Silence" that is commemorated every Isakawarsa (Saka new year) according to the Balinese calendar (in 2021, it falls on March 14).

The day of silence marks the turn of the Saka calendar of western Indian origin. It's one among the many calendars assimilated by Indonesia’s diverse cultures. The Saka is also among 2 calendars jointly used in Bali. It follows a lunar sequence and is 78 years behind the Gregorian calendar. Nyepi follows right after a new moon, typically in March.

Leading up to Nyepi Eve, village meeting halls (Banjar) showcase paper-mâché effigies called ogoh-ogoh. They’re built by youth groups who design and build their mythical figures with intricately shaped and tied bamboo frameworks before many layers of artwork. These artistic creations have been offshoots of the celebration since the early 1980s. Much of it has stayed on to