Will you be in Bali this Saturday 29th March 2025? Are you up to speed about the events of the most holy day of the year and how you are expected to respect and observe the day?
Nyepi Day is the most important day of the Balinese Hindu calendar and all those on the island, irrespective of their faith or religion are expected to observe the customs of the day.
Nyepi Day, the Balinese holy day of silence, will start with the sound of a gong or a drum sounding out over every village and community on the island at 6am on Saturday 29th March.
From 6am on Saturday 29th March until 6am on Sunday 30th March everyone is expected to stay in their homes, hotels, resorts, villas or accommodation.
Throughout the 24 hours, Balinese Hindus will observe the four restrictions of the holy day, known as Catur Brata Penyepain. These are no fire, or Amati Geni, no working, known as Amati Karya, no traveling, known as Amati Lelungan, and no entertainment, known as Amati Lelanguan.
Amati Geni, since the tradition of Nyepi spans back generations, also refers to the modern-day no light and no electricity.
Though, in Bali the power will remain on, lights and electricity are meant to be used minimally. Tourists in Bali who wish to use the lights in their accommodation will be expected to close the curtains or blinds and use as little light as possible.
For the first time, electricity will remain on in Nusa Penida. Typically all connection is cut on Nusa Penida for the 24 hours of Nyepi. However, all across Bali Province, including the outlying islands of Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Ceningan, telecoms services are expected to be cut. This includes mobile signal and internet connection.
The Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs, Meutya Hafid, told reporters “For Nyepi Day we will prepare a letter to all mobile operates as well as broadcasting providers to cease broadcasting and services for one day.”
The Director General of Digital Infrasture at the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, Wayan Toni Supriyanto, told reporters “During Nyepi Day, all internet and broadcasting services will be down from 6am until 6am the next day.”
He confirmed that the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs has been working to create support strategies to ensure that connection resumes seamlessly, especially as Eid al-Fitr, Indonesia’s biggest public holiday, will be observed on Sunday 30th, and Monday 31st of March.
Supriyanto explained, “The government and mobile operators have agreed to provide support to the community in the form of discounted package rates of up to 50% without compromising on service quality.”
For tourists who will be in Bali this weekend, it is best to prepare to be offline for at least 24 hours. In years gone by, it has been announced that telecom services will be cut, but on the day have remained live; it is best to assume the cut will go ahead fully and prepare to be offline.
Typically the public, including tourists, should be in position ahead of Nyepi Day by midday on Friday 28th March. This is because many businesses and attractions will be operating limited opening hours the day before Nypei.
It is also important to be in place as early as possible on Friday 27th March as road closures will come into effect from as early as 3 pm, in some areas from midday, as communities prepare for the magical and monstrous Ogoh-Ogoh Parades.
Tourists who wish to observe Ogoh-Ogoh Parades are advised to contact their accommodation providers to find out the exact timings for parades happening close to their hotels, resorts, guesthouses, and villas.
While Nyepi Day technically starts from 6 am on 29th March, foreigners and most community members will be expected to be at home, or within their accommodation shortly after the end of the Ogoh-Ogoh Parades, which usually finish by the latest of 10 pm.
Tourists will see more security teams, especially local pecalang, out and about over the coming days. They are tasked with keeping public order, directing traffic and ensuring that the customs of the upcoming holy days are respected by all.
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