Nyepi Day of Silence in Bali: A Sacred Day of Silence and the Vibrant Ogoh-Ogoh Festival
Ogoh-Ogoh Festival Date: Friday Evening, March 28, 2025
Nyepi Dates: Sat, Mar 29, 2025, 6.00am – Sun, Mar 30, 2025, 6:00am
Bali is known for its rich cultural traditions, but one of the most unique and profound celebrations is Nyepi Day, the Balinese New Year based on the Saka calendar.
Unlike New Year celebrations in most parts of the world, Nyepi is a Day of Silence, a time for self-reflection, meditation, and complete stillness. However, before the island falls into silence, the streets of Bali come alive with a spectacular event known as the Ogoh-Ogoh Festival.
Even tourists are expected to respect these rules, staying inside their accommodations and avoiding any disturbances. Hotels provide food and limited indoor services, but guests are not allowed to leave the premises.
From 6 AM on Saturday, March 29, to 6 AM on Sunday, March 30, Bali will shut down completely for Nyepi Day 2025.
Also known as the Day of Silence, Nyepi is the most significant Balinese holiday, marking the Balinese New Year. The airport will be closed for 24 hours, with no flights arriving or departing.
Everyone must stay indoors, the streets will be empty, and mobile internet and broadcast services like cable TV will be shut off.
Fiber optic internet has remained active in past years, but there’s no official confirmation for this year, so be prepared for a full day without internet.
Traditional village security, known as “Pecalang,” will patrol the streets to enforce the rules. Anyone found outside will be sent home or detained if they refuse to comply. This applies to both locals and tourists, and those who break the rules may even face deportation.
At night, if light from your windows is visible, the Pecalang may ask you to turn it off or dim it. For Balinese Hindus, Nyepi means no fire, no light, no work, no travel, and some even fast and meditate.
This year, Nyepi coincides with the start of Eid Al-Fitr on March 29, a time when millions of Indonesians travel home for the holiday. Indonesia’s Ministry of Transportation expects 146 million people to travel during this period.
Bali’s Gilimanuk port, the main gateway to Java, has already been packed with travelers leaving the island.
Authorities fear some may not make it off Bali before Nyepi and are preparing temporary shelters in town halls, schools, and village buildings.
If you’re in Bali for Nyepi, stock up on food and drinks, enjoy the rare silence, and appreciate the clear night sky without light pollution.
Take in this one-of-a-kind experience.
Happy Nyepi!
The Ogoh-Ogoh Festival: A Night of Fiery Processions
The eve of Nyepi, called Pengerupukan, is marked by the Ogoh-Ogoh Festival, an exhilarating parade that takes place across the island. Ogoh-Ogoh are giant, demon-like effigies made from bamboo and paper, crafted by local communities and displayed in vibrant street processions.
These grotesque and mythical figures symbolize negative spirits and impurities, and their ritualistic parade aims to cleanse the island of bad energies before entering a new year.
The night is filled with loud gamelan music, chanting, and fireworks, creating an intense and almost chaotic atmosphere. Once the processions conclude, the Ogoh-Ogoh are traditionally burned to symbolize the eradication of evil. This marks the transition into the peaceful stillness of Nyepi.
