Speaking of Indonesia, the Jakarta Post describes tomorrow's Nyepi holiday (Day of Silence) in Bali. Despite frequent travel to the island I was never there during Nyepi. Bali is a special place and its flavour of Hindusim is distinct.
The resort island of Bali will be temporarily closed for 24 hours as of Monday morning at 6 a.m. through to the same time Tuesday to observe Nyepi (the Hindu Day of Silence).
The island's Ngurah Rai International Airport will welcome its last flight on Sunday at midnight and will halt operations until the morning of March 20, according to airport spokesman Ahmad Munir......During the ritual of Nyepi, 90 percent of the island's 3.5 million inhabitants will practice Yoga Semedi and Catur Berata Penyepian (meditation), Amati Geni (which forbids them from lighting fires and switching on lights), Amati Karya (working), Amati Lelanguan (enjoying leisure activities) and Amati Lelungan (leaving their houses).
Bali will be completely darkened and silenced for a full day, allowing the island's Hindu population to meditate, contemplate and pray for a better future...
...No visitors are allowed to come to the island during the day of silence. All entry points, apart from the international airport, Gilimanuk Port in West Bali and Padang Bai Port in East Bali, will be closed........Domestic and foreign visitors are encouraged to stay in their hotels and other places of accommodation during the holiday, as the island will be tightly guarded by traditional Balinese security guards, Pecalang, to ensure all people abide by the holiday regulations........Prior to the Nyepi holiday, Balinese Hindus carried out a series of rituals that began last Friday when thousands of Hindus paraded to the beach nearest them to hold the Melasti ritual -- the cleansing of utensils and more importantly, their souls.
The Melasti ceremony symbolizes the purification of the earth and the universe through the removal of all evil elements....
...He said Christian leaders have also been asked to hold Sunday mass by 4 p.m. at the latest due to the impending traffic jams.
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