Nyepi Proposed as UNESCO World Cultural Heritage

The Bali Provincial Government, along with several Hindu religious figures, is proposing Nyepi Day to be recognised as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage. The proposal emerged from a coordination meeting held by the Bali Provincial Government with the Prajaniti Hindu Indonesia Bali, PHDI, the Bali Cultural Council, the Bali Indigenous Community Development Agency, and the Bali Customary Village Council. The Head of the Bali Culture Agency, Ida Bagus Alit Suryana, stated that all meeting participants agreed to push for Nyepi to be submitted as a world cultural heritage. “The meeting outcome was unanimous approval to propose Nyepi Day as a world cultural heritage, due to the noble values of spirituality, social aspects, and environmental preservation embodied in Nyepi,” said Suryana on Tuesday (29/4/2026). According to him, these values provide a strong foundation for religious and cultural figures in submitting Nyepi to UNESCO. Subsequently, the Bali Provincial Government will prepare a proposal to be submitted to the Ministry of Culture. Thereafter, the Ministry of Culture will review the necessary administrative completeness. “The matter of when it will be designated is up to the Ministry of Culture. Our hope is that if it can be done quickly, they have an SOP related to the submission process,” he added. In addition, Suryana mentioned that community support is also needed in the proposal process. Public response will be one of the complementary aspects in the submission to UNESCO. “Later, in its development, we will also see the enthusiasm of the community, whether from customs, culture, religious figures, or the public, as we seek their support. Because this is our shared possession,” explained Suryana.