Silence reigns supreme on the sacred Hindu holiday of Nyepi. The streets of Bali empty out. Motorbikes go silent. Storefronts close. Lights remain off. Not a single candle is lit. For twenty-four hours, the island observes a collective day of prayer, meditation, fasting, and reflection.
But the night before is a different story. The Ngrupuk parade marches through the streets, as revelers carry Ogoh-ogoh, or demonic statues meant to represent Buta Kala, terrifying spirits from Balinese Hindu tradition. These huge effigies, crafted from bamboo, wood, and paper, tower overhead as the sounds of loud music, shouting and banging reverberate through the night, drawing out all malevolent spirits from their places of hiding. The parade ends in a wild blaze of flames, a ritual burning to clear the way for the holy Day of Silence. |
