Balinese observe Nyepi with usual tolerance

Balinese observe Nyepi with usual tolerance

JAKARTA (JP): The Balinese observed Nyepi day, the Hindu Day
of Silence, yesterday without light and avoiding all activities.

Nyepi day, this year 1919 in the Saka (Hindu) calendar, is
when the faithful reflect on their actions of the year before.

Hindus meditate in their houses and are prohibited from
engaging in any kind of activity including turning on lights,
traveling and sex.

The predominantly Hindu land, also known as the Island of
Paradise and the Island of God, has three million Hindus.

The island was very quiet and looked almost like a deserted
island, an Antara report said. The road connecting Gilimanuk,
Denpasar and Padangbai, usually packed with traffic, was deserted
and pollution free.

A few Pecalang (village officers who are active only on Nyepi
day), could be seen in their traditional black garb complete with
keris (traditional dagger). They stood guard on street corners
and road junctions to supervise those with special permission to
travel.

This year the local administration in Badung, southern Bali,
gave permission for 234 cars to travel the area. These vehicles
belonged to police officers and travel agencies who were
transporting tourists from hotels to the airport or visa versa.

Tourists showed respect for the tradition by staying in their
hotels, many of which organized special programs.

The virtue of tolerance is not new in Bali. In 1991, Nyepi
fell on the eve of Idul Fitri, the Moslem post-fasting festival.
And in 1990 Nyepi fell on a Sunday the day Christians go to
church. Each time, the Balinese let the other groups perform
their religious duties.

Only hospitals were allowed to carry on undisturbed yesterday.
But hospital staff kept activity to a minimum in honor of the
day.

Nyepi evening was very dark, with no power, no candlelight.
Only 127 vital institutions were allowed to use electricity,
these were hospitals, hotels, and meat canning factories.

In rural areas, officials guarded villages to prevent crime.

Meanwhile in Tengger, the mountainous area of East Java, the
majority Hindus celebrated Nyepi quite differently.

For one, they had lights on. The Tengger village chief,
Soedja'i, was quoted by Antara as saying the difference lay in
cultural variation.

"Here we observe Nyepi in our own way," he said. "We do it
with sacrifices but I could say the difference is not based on
religious teachings but on culture," he said.

In Tengger, he said, lights-off will be observed next month,
the kapitu month. "At the beginning and the end of it." (12)