NYEPI:
Bali's day of silence
The same thing also occurs in
Bali, however the 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 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)
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
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)
Kissing Ritual In 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).
Video of Balinese Nyepi Ogoh-Ogoh Monsters:
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