Nyepi – “silent day” in Bali
The Balinese new year called NYEPI is a special day for every one, because nobody is allowed to go out, making some noise or lights after sunset. No shop is open, no planes are landing, Bali seems to be empty!
The beginning of the new year of the Balinese calender starts with “fooling” the bad deamons. It works like this: in the evening before NYEPI there is a big and loud parade where big monsters called Ogoh-Ogohs are carried through the streets to threaten the bad deamons so they will leave the island. When they come back on the next day they will find Bali abandoned… they will not even find one single soul to steal… no human to drag to the dark side… (remember that no one is allowed to go out, or make light). So the deamons will leave Bali for a long time and all people can start the new year in peace!
Usually there are a lot of ceremonies and praying befor Nyepi day, like here at Batu Bolong, Canggu area.
Here you see to Ogoh-Ogoh Monsters fighting againstg each other, good against evil. Usually these monsters are built by – or at least with a lot of help of children. They always looking forward to this special event.
The Montsers are carried throught the streets and wiggled areound on their bamboo- frames so the actiually look quite real….thats why the picture quality isn´t that good, sorry.
Due to the moving, this dude looks really spooky, doesn´t it?
Here another friendly deamon fighting a dragon.
When the parade is over the Ogoh-Ogoh Monsters will be burned. Especially this is fun for the kids.
Burn, Ogoh- Ogoh…burn. Visit our surf camps in Bali to see that spectacular parade and enjoy one day of totally silence besides of hammering waves 