Call for airport's closure on Nyepi

BESAKIH, BALI: The chairman of the Hindu Religion Forum, N. Suwandha, said he hoped the Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar, Bali, would be closed on Nyepi (the Hindu Day of Silence), which falls on April 13.

He said shutting down the airport would help the Balinese solemnly celebrate Nyepi, which is the last day of the Balinese calendar.

During the day, the Balinese are not allowed to work, to use fire or lamps or to travel.

The airport was shut down for Nyepi in 1999, and again last year for 24 hours.

All sea ports and the gates to all tourist sites on the island will be shut for 24 hours on April 13, starting at 6 a.m.

If the airport was shut down, emergency landings would still be allowed. However, the crew and passengers of any plane making an emergency landing would have to remain on the plane until Nyepi ended. --Antara