Activities in Bali brought to a halt<\/p>\n
DENPASAR, Bali (JP): Activities on the tourist island of Bali
\ncame to a halt on Tuesday as the predominantly Hindu population
\nobserved the Hindu Day of Silence (Nyepi).<\/p>\n
A first-time restriction on flights to the resort island took
\neffect on Tuesday, with all domestic and international air
\nservices to and from Bali banned for a period of 24 hours.<\/p>\n
Roads were deserted as Balinese stayed home to celebrate the
\nholy day. A cheerful celebration preceded the sacred day, with a
\nparade of Ogoh-Ogoh giant puppets and a traditional ceremony on
\nMonday to welcome the day of solitude and introspection.<\/p>\n
Hindus are prohibited from working, traveling and using
\nelectricity on the holy day. The religious prohibitions are
\nbelieved to deceive descending evil spirits into believing the
\nareas are deserted.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of hotels requested their guests stay indoors and
\nmost restaurants were closed.<\/p>\n
Bali Police deployed about 1,000 personnel to secure the
\nevent, supported by Pecalang (customary guards) who conducted
\npatrols for people breaching the holy edicts, such as lighting
\nfires or walking outside.<\/p>\n
The Ngerupuk traditional ritual was performed on Monday to
\nward off evil spirits. The giant puppets symbolize temptation and
\nevil spirits in people's lives.<\/p>\n
At least 840 giant puppets were on show this year, each of
\nwhich cost from Rp 2 million to Rp 10 million to make. Locals
\nburned the puppets before the stroke of midnight, a ritual to
\ncast away evil spirits.<\/p>\n
A minor incident marred the parade when a man threw a
\nfirecracker at a group of people who were bearing the puppets.<\/p>\n
A mob chased the man who later hid in a Hindu temple belonging
\nto local leader Anak Agung Ngurah Gde Kusuma Wardhana.<\/p>\n
Matters were settled peacefully.<\/p>\n
In Yogyakarta, a grand celebration was held at the Hindu
\nPrambanan Temple on Monday, attended by President Abdurrahman
\nWahid and First Lady Sinta Nuriyah, along with Cabinet ministers,
\nhigh-ranking police and military officers and Yogyakarta governor
\nHamengkubuwono X.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman, a former leader of the country's largest Muslim
\norganization Nahdlatul Ulama, expressed his strong support of
\nreligious tolerance.<\/p>\n
In his message to mark the Hindu Saka New Year of 1922,
\nAbdurrahman said Prambanan temple was as influential as its
\nBuddhist counterpart Borobudur temple in Magelang, Central Java.<\/p>\n
\"This proves the vital existence of Hindu Dharma, one of the
\nnational religions that has become a main pillar of the country,\"
\nAbdurrahman said in his opening address.<\/p>\n
It was the first Nyepi celebration ever held at Prambanan.<\/p>\n
\"We must always live in harmony and peace. This celebration
\ncan mark the rise of our nation's culture,\" Abdurrahman added.<\/p>\n
In Medan, the capital of North Sumatra, thousands of Hindus
\nfasted and kept silent during the day.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, thousands flocked to the National Monument square
\non Monday night for a parade of the giant figures.
\n(39\/44\/zen\/edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/activities-in-bali-brought-to-a-halt-1447893297",
"image": ""
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