{"id":21038,"date":"2020-10-06T08:56:04","date_gmt":"2020-10-06T00:56:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.balireply.com\/?p=21038"},"modified":"2020-10-06T08:59:53","modified_gmt":"2020-10-06T00:59:53","slug":"the-oldest-ritual-in-human-history-explaining-nyepi-balis-day-of-silence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.balireply.com\/2020\/10\/06\/the-oldest-ritual-in-human-history-explaining-nyepi-balis-day-of-silence\/","title":{"rendered":"Explaining Nyepi: Bali\u2019s Day of Complete Silence"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There are many traditional ceremonies that separate Bali<\/strong> from the rest of the thousands of islands and islets that make-up Indonesia<\/strong>. One of the most distinctively unique is the \u2018Nyepi<\/strong>\u2019, or the Balinese Day of Silence. This celebration is the oldest recorded in human history, as part of the larger, world-renowned 6-day new year celebration \u2013 the Isakawarsa<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Nyepi<\/strong> ritual falls on the 3rd<\/sup> day of this cycle. It is the day following the dark moon of the spring equinox when night and day are equal in duration. The observance is Hindu in origin and celebrated exclusively on the island. So, you won\u2019t be able to catch this event anywhere else. This is especially true throughout the rest of Indonesia, as Bali is the only majority Hindu part of the entire nation<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What actually is Nyepi?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The day itself is one of silence, fasting and complete meditation of the mind. For locals, Nyepi<\/strong> is a day to connect more closely to God and to cleanse themselves of their personal demons. The ritual lasts for an entire 24-hour period running from 6am until 6am the following day. During this, the island is placed on complete lockdown (something I\u2019m sure we are all used to be now).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As this is a day for self-reflection, all activity perceived as counter-intuitive is made illegal. This includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n