THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE NYEPI DAY

The date of this year's Nyepi celebration is March 3, 2022. Nyepi  is a holiday observed once a year to commemorate the Saka New Year. Because the word “Nyepi” means “quiet” in Balinese, the celebration of Nyepi Day is carried out in solitude in their respective homes. Nyepi Day is celebrated to calm the mind, introspect, and reflect on the deeds we have done. On Nyepi Day, Hindus observe four brata known as Catur Brata Penyepian: Amati Gni (not lighting a fire), Amati Karya (not working), Amati Lelungan (not traveling), and Amati Lelanguan (not having fun).

There are several ceremonies preceding Nyepi Day, including melasti (cleansing oneself to the sea), tawur (purification), and pengrupukan. The Melasti ceremony is held two days before Nyepi Day, and on that day all temple prayer equipment or pretima is purified in the sea or river. The sea is believed to wash away dirt or mala by Hindus. The Tawur or Mecaru ceremony, which is a purification ceremony  (Bhuta Kala), is then performed. The application of Mecaru takes place one day before Nyepi Day, in the morning. In addition, the Pengrupukan ceremony is held in the afternoon. Pengrupukan refers to the practice of expelling Bhuta Kala (evil spirits) by sowing nasi tawur, lighting the surroundings, and ringing objects to make a sound.

Nyepi Day is a day of purification for both humans and nature. In other words, Nyepi intends to shed old dirt and ugliness in order to face new challenges in the coming year. Several activities are prohibited during Nyepi. Hindus can do solemn contemplation in a quiet environment. The final stage of Nyepi Day can be seen as a celebration of recognition and forgiveness. The day after Nyepi is Ngembak Geni, which means that as humans, we should admit our mistakes and ask for or forgive others. The celebration of Nyepi helps people understand the value of tolerance in their lives. The significance of Nyepi Day is closely related to the meaning of life. Self-reflection is one of the processes involved in preparing to live in the new year.