Viral Foreigner Wandering During Nyepi, Rai Mantra Urges Immigration to Act
A video circulating on social media shows a foreigner (WNA) or Westerner allegedly wandering the streets during the celebration of Nyepi Day in Bali on Thursday (29/3/2026). In the recording, the foreigner is also said to have uttered statements deemed disrespectful to the sanctity of Nyepi.
This incident immediately drew widespread reactions from the public and netizens. Nyepi itself is a sacred day for Hindus observed through the practice of tapa brata, including silence, refraining from travel, not working, not lighting fires, and avoiding entertainment. These rules apply to everyone in Bali, including foreign tourists.
In the viral video, the foreigner appears to be outdoors during a time of complete quiet. Locals who saw him reprimanded him, as the action was considered a violation of customary rules. Additionally, information circulated that the individual uttered words deemed disrespectful to local traditions.
The social media account believed to belong to the foreigner is named Luzzysun, which has now come under public scrutiny. To date, there has been no official clarification from the account owner.
Criticism also came from I Gusti Ngurah Rai Mantra. Through a social media post, he expressed concern and strong criticism regarding the alleged actions.
“If this news is true, wow, the written words are extremely outrageous. Thank you @luzzysun,” he began his statement.
He then urged the relevant agencies to act immediately. “I request @imigrasibali and @immngurahrai to immediately verify the truth. Deportation? This concerns the harassment of the beliefs of the Balinese indigenous community and Hindus, as well as disturbing the religious awareness that has been built to safeguard Bali,” he stated firmly.
Rai Mantra also emphasised that Nyepi is not merely a tradition but a manifestation of spiritual values passed down through generations and part of the social agreement of Balinese society.
“Nyepi is a pattern of belief behaviour passed down through generations, a manifestation of spirituality and the meaning of life for the indigenous Balinese community. It is also a consequence of the social agreement of a region,” he said.
He added that interfaith harmony in Bali has been well-established, including in maintaining the silence during Nyepi, even when adjacent to celebrations of other major religious holidays.
“This is not merely tolerance, but a shared awareness to keep Bali silent during Nyepi and protect that social agreement,” he continued.
Furthermore, he reminded that Nyepi is protected by the state and has been designated as a national holiday through Presidential Decree Number 3 of 1983, as well as having specific regulations in Bali.
To date, there has been no official statement or confirmation from the police or immigration authorities regarding the incident.
This case serves as a reminder of the importance of educating foreign tourists to understand and respect local wisdom. The public hopes that the authorities will follow up on this incident and ensure that Bali’s cultural values remain preserved.