When in Bali, do as the locals do. Especially on Nyepi – the Balinese New Year and a sacred day of silence.

The majority of Bali’s population is Hindu, but non-Hindus observe the day of silence. Even tourists.

• No Outside Activity: Everyone on the island must stay indoors for 24 hours.
• No Lights, Fires or Noise: People must turn off lights, avoid loud noises, and stop using internet or travel.
• Applies to All: The rules apply to every person on the island, including foreign visitors.

Nyepi, which means “to stay silent,” occurs the day after the dark moon of the spring equinox. On Nyepi Eve, Bali’s streets are filled with parades of the well-known Ogoh-Ogoh statues, accompanied by loud sounds and gamelan music.

Nyepi is for spiritual cleansing and reflection, which helps individuals cleanse their minds and spirits. The day is believed to cleanse the island of negative energies and demons. In theory, it helps the island to rest and restore balance. It certainly deserves all of the help that it can get.

A Swiss tourist recently learned the hard way. He was sentenced to one year in prison in August 2026 for breaking and mocking Bali’s sacred Day of Silence on social media. Last March, 26-year-old Luzian Andrin Zgraggen ignored warnings from his villa staff. He left his room, walked to an empty beach, and recorded videos during the holy day.He posted the videos online, called the tradition “crazy,” and used a swear word. The post angered local residents.The Denpasar District Court found him guilty under Indonesia’s new criminal code for insulting a religious observance. Zgraggen apologized to the Balinese people and stated he was only frustrated because he was hungry. He received a one-year prison term, but his five months of pre-trial detention count toward the time served.

The Ogoh-Ogoh, usually made of papier-mâché, is placed on a bamboo frame serving as its base. The young people of a banjar (local community) create these oversized statues in the likeness of demons, evil spirits, and other fantastical figures from Hindu mythology. Some statues reference current issues and may resemble real people known for cruelty, greed, or injustice.

As a symbol of all the bad things that might happen in life, the Ogoh-Ogoh are burned afterward to make room for good energy that can bring peace and prosperity in the year ahead.

The Ogoh-Ogoh statues are a very important part of the Nyepi celebrations marking the start of the new year in the Balinese calendar. On the night before Nyepi, communities create and parade large, colorful Ogoh-Ogoh statues through the streets.

The statues represent demons and negative elements believed to threaten the balance of the universe. Their parade and burning symbolize the banishment of negative forces and the purification of the community in preparation for the new year. The Ogoh-Ogoh parade represents the victory of good over evil and the triumph of spiritual values over materialism. Visitors and tourists are welcome to observe and enjoy the magical creatures.

A Unique Experience For Visitors

Visitors on Bali during Nyepi will experience this unique, magical, and fascinating celebration and join the Balinese in reflecting on the past year in silence and starting with new and positive intentions.

Because Nyepi follows the lunar-based Balinese Saka calendar, the date changes every year. Upcoming Nyepi Dates

• 2027: Monday, March 8
• 2028: Wednesday, March 26
• 2029: Thursday, March 15
• 2030: Tuesday, March 5

Planning Timeline

• The Night Before (Ogoh-Ogoh Parades): On the evening before Nyepi, villages across Bali host massive, loud parades featuring giant demon statues. This is highly recommended for tourists to watch.
• The Day of Silence: Starting at 6:00 AM, the entire island shuts down for 24 hours. The airport closes, all flights stop, roads clear out, and lights must remain off or strictly dimmed at night. Everyone—including tourists—is legally required to stay inside their accommodation. Some hotels provide guests with meals during the 24 hour lockdown.

The following rules are strictly enforced:

• No fire, light, or electricity;
• No working;
• No traveling; and
• No entertainment or pleasure.

No work, no light, no sound, no internet, no phone, no shopping, no airport, no bars, no swimming. Pure silence everywhere. If you are planning to ride it out, stock up on food and stay inside with the curtains shut.

For more information, visit https://nyepi.com/ or https://bali.com/ 

Indonesia is the fourth-largest nation in the world with more than 267 million people. The country has more than 17,500 islands, including Bali, Borneo, Java, Lombok, Sumatra and Sulawesi.

Get the most from your trip with the Language and Travel Guide to Indonesia. Learn where to go and what to say. Thousands of islands. Hundreds of cultures. One book.

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Pope Francis kicked off the longest trip of his tenure with a much anticipated trip to the Asia Pacific region – a challenging journey for an 87-year-old man.

Pope Francis had planned to visit Indonesia in 2020, but the trip was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last March, President Joko Widodo invited the Pope to reschedule his visit. Pope Francis is the third pontiff to visit Indonesia, following Paul VI in 1970 and John Paul II in 1989. The theme of his visit was “Faith, Fraternity, and Compassion.”

The Pope highlighted environmental concerns and the importance of interfaith dialogue. The Pope has criticized nations over deforestation and the loss of biodiversity. Indonesia is not immune to this criticism.

During his trip to Indonesia, he visited Istiqlal Mosque and signed a joint declaration with the Grand Imam. The Pope’s visit to the mosque and the cathedral offered a powerful statement of religious fraternity and mutual respect, reflecting his dedication to promoting peace and unity among diverse communities. The Pope also met with outgoing president Joko Widodo and held a mass for some 70,000 people.

“The visit offered opportunities to discuss the common ground between religious communities,” said Nasaruddin Umar, the grand imam at the Jakarta mosque. “It also emphasized the commonalities between religions, ethnicities, and beliefs. His journey underscores the importance of mutual understanding and peace, especially between Catholics and Muslims.” 

Seven people in Indonesia have been detained after a failed plot to attack Pope Francis during his visit to the country. The suspects were arrested in Jakarta, Bogor and Bekasi prior to the Pope’s arrival. Indonesia has suffered Islamist attacks over the past decades, including the 2002 bombing in Bali that killed more than 200 people.

“Indonesia has seen its share of religious conflict and violence for centuries,” said Gary Chandler, author of the Language and Travel Guide To Indonesia. “Most of these conflicts are isolated today, but they are ongoing.”

For Archbishop Augustinus Agus of Pontianak, the important thing is that almost everyone in Indonesia, not just Catholics but especially Muslims, has seen the true character of Pope Francis. The Archbishop explained that the Pope’s visit symbolizes his mission of bringing peace everywhere. He noted the Pope’s choice of a simple car, his preference not to stay in hotels, and the similarity of his cassock with other priests.

In Timor-Leste, once an Indonesian island known as East Timor, the Pope will officiate mass in the capital Dili, where John Paul II spoke in 1989 to comfort local Catholics suffering under Indonesia’s occupation of the territory. Timor-Leste gained independence in 2002.

For the past decade, the Pope has been increasing his engagements with Asia.

Early in his pontificate, he made four long-distance trips to the region: to South Korea, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and Japan. Only 0.5% of Japan’s population identified as Catholic at the time. He has also visited Bangladesh, Mongolia, Myanmar, and Thailand.

Indonesia is the fourth-largest nation in the world with more than 267 million people. The country has more than 17,500 islands, including Bali, Borneo, Java, Lombok, Sumatra and Sulawesi.

Get the most from your trip with the Language and Travel Guide to Indonesia. Learn where to go and what to say. Thousands of islands. Hundreds of cultures. One book.

The post Pope Francis Visits Indonesia appeared first on Language and Travel Guide To Indonesia.