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)