Bali

Nyepi is commemorated every Isakawarsa (Saka new year) according to the Balinese calendar. It is a Hindu celebration, mainly observed in Bali, Indonesia. While most cultures celebrate the coming of the new year with as much noise as possible, Nyepi is called the “Day of Silence.” For twenty-four hours, no one is allowed in the streets or on the beaches for any reason. Noise and light are kept to a bare minimum. The Balinese sit in their homes, in quiet self-reflection. They think about wrongs they may have done in preparation for the “Day of Forgiveness.” I’m told the idea behind it all is that any evil spirits intent on plaguing Bali on this day will find it dark, quiet and empty; seemingly uninhabited. They’ll just give up and go somewhere else. This year, the Balinese New Year fell on March 22. It occurs to me that in 2020, at least, whether we meant to or not, the entire world observed Nyepi.