Here is an invitation.

Join us for the Balinese “Day of Silence” from 6am Saturday, March 17 to 6am Sunday, March 18.

The Day of Silence, here called Nyepi, is the holiest day of the year in Bali. It is the start of a new year.

If you can imagine, during this 24-hour period:

Nobody leaves their family home.

All roads are deserted.

The international airport in Denpasar is shut down.

Radio and TV quit broadcasting.

No fires are lit.

Nobody goes to work.

Lighting is kept to a minimum.

All entertainment takes a day rest.

The government and local religious leaders are considering also shutting down the internet, but others in government say people on their own should just refrain from internet entertainment. Many people take this as an excellent time for prayer and meditation.

In the 3 days preceding Nyepi people prepare by taking all their shrines to the nearest river and wash them. Then on the day preceding Nyepi there are huge processions with nasty looking monsters with eyes bulging, long fangs and scary hair. These represent the demons in our lives. After the sun sets, the demons are burned.

Then the day after Nyepi, people visit each other and forgive each other any transgressions. It is also a day for Dharma study, reading holy texts.

Join us in this meaningful celebration as much as you can.