Indonesia's Bali marks New Year's "Day of Silence"

Mar 19, 2007, 5:59 GMT

Jakarta - Millions of residents and tourists on the popular Indonesian resort island of Bali on Monday celebrated the annual 'Day of Silence,' a Hindu New Year's observance during which the island shuts down and people are banned from the streets.

The New Year, called Nyepi, is one of the most important religious events for Balinese Hindus, and this year, they welcomed the Saka New Year of 1929.

At midnight Sunday, the island's seaports, bus stations and airport closed down, not to reopen until 6 a.m. Tuesday (2300 GMT Monday), when the new Hindu year officially begins.

Bali's famous beaches were deserted, and residents and visitors alike were required to remain indoors and keep any conversations quiet. More than 4 million Balinese Hindus were fasting and meditating throughout the day and praying for a better future.

They are forbidden from lighting fires and turning on lights, televisions or radios during the 24-hour period on the vacation spot known as 'Paradise Island.'

Foreign visitors have been informed to stay in their hotels or guest lodgings, where they can still be served meals and relax - quietly - indoors or by the swimming pool.

The island was guarded by traditional Balinese security guards, locally called 'Pecalang,' to ensure all people abide by the holiday regulations.

Prior to New Year's Day, Balinese Hindus conducted a series of rituals that began Friday when thousands paraded to local beaches for the 'Melasti' - the cleansing of utensils and, more importantly, their souls. It symbolizes the purification of the earth and the universe through the removal of evil elements.

On New Year's Eve, joyful residents took part in a noisy parade carrying huge paper-made effigies, known as 'Ogoh-Ogoh,' which they burned before sunrise to symbolize all evil leaving the island ahead of the New Year.

Similar rituals were also held by Hindu followers on Muslim-majority Java, including in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta.

Local media reported that thousands of non-Balinese Hindus opted to leave the island and spend the holiday on Java or the nearby tourist island of Lombok.

Indonesia has the world's largest Muslim population at more than 190 million but also has minority Hindus, Christians, Buddhists and animists.