Tag Archives: Balinese festivals
Nyepi in 60 Seconds Posted by sasha on Mar 15, 2018
There’s a lot going on in the lead-up to the Balinese New Year, known as Hari Raya Nyepi. A few days before, there’s the Melasti ceremony where sacred objects are brought to the sea to be purified. Then there’s the freaky ogoh-ogoh statues and a big performance or parade. Finally, the actual New Year’s Day…
Hari Raya Nyepi Posted by sasha on Mar 12, 2018
Hari Raya Nyepi is the Balinese New Year, which is also known as the Day of Silence. This is because the entire island shuts down for a day of meditation, prayer, and reflection. There are lots of ceremonies in the lead-up to Nyepi, including the exciting ogoh-ogoh parades. Nyepi is on a different day every…
A Guide to Nyepi Posted by sasha on Mar 6, 2017
Once a year, the entire island of Bali shuts down for a day. The airport is closed, the roads are free of motorbikes, and even Kuta Beach is devoid of action. What’s the occasion? It’s Hari Raya Nyepi, or the Balinese New Year. It occurs on the first new moon of March, which falls on the…
Balinese Culture – Melasti Ceremony Posted by sasha on Mar 10, 2016
A few days before Nyepi – the Balinese New Year – villages all over the island perform the melasti purification ceremony. See highlights from Sanur in this short video:
Experiencing Nyepi in Bali Posted by sasha on Mar 9, 2016
Today is the Balinese New Year, known as Hari Raya Nyepi in Indonesian. On this holiday, the Island of the Gods observes a day of silence – the airport is closed, no cars are allowed on the road aside for emergency vehicles, and local village police known as pecalang patrol the streets to ensure nobody…
Balinese Culture – Galungan and Kuningan Posted by sasha on Feb 25, 2016
Anyone who visits Bali will most likely see some kind of ceremony at some point in their trip. Whether at temples, at home, or in the village, it seems like there’s always some kind of ceremony going on. There are certain times of the year, however, when the ceremonies and processions are especially elaborate and…
Saraswati Day Video Posted by sasha on Dec 3, 2015
The festival of Saraswati in Bali celebrates the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music, art, language, and wisdom. Check out some highlights from a Saraswati celebration at the ARMA Museum in Ubud, put on with BASAbali and full of dance, music, poetry, and more.