Nyepi in Bali: What To Expect During Balinese Day Of Silence

Aside from vibrant towns and stunning beaches, Bali is also known for its rich cultural heritage, including the unique Day of Silence. A day dedicated to the Balinese Hindu tradition of cleansing the island from evil spirits. For 24 hours, the island will go into “silent mode”, a stark contrast to its usually exciting charm, as a serene calmness falls over the island.

Check out this article to know what to expect for Nyepi next year!

What is Nyepi?

Nyepi is a key event in the Balinese Hindu calendar celebrating the new Saka Year. It’s a day in a year where the island comes to a standstill for a moment of reflection and meditation. All activities in the island will close during Nyepi, including the airport and other transportation going in and out of the island will cease. Everyone is expected to stay at home in lockdown mode.

Before Nyepi: Melasti

Their preparation for Nyepi begins with a cleansing ritual a few days prior to Nyepi. A majority of the Balinese will gather at the beach wearing white as a symbol of purification. Usually sacred objects are paraded around the “village” before being purified.

During Nyepi

The actual day of Nyepi starts from 6 AM to 6 AM the next day. During this day, you can expect absolute silence all over the island. The local guards, or pecalang, will patrol the area to ensure that everyone stays indoors and respect the Day of Silence.

After Nyepi: Ogoh-Ogoh Parade

Mostly known as Pengerupukan, this portion of the celebration is the widely anticipated Ogoh-Ogoh parade, a stunning display of papier-mache depicting monsters and other ghoulish things by local regions or ‘banjars’.

The streets will be closed as people flock the streets with the giant figures, making vibrant noises, from loud music to traditional instruments as they parade the streets. Then, at the end of the parade, the ogoh-ogoh will be burned in an open area. 

This is done in the hopes that the evil spirits in the island will be attracted by the lights and the noise, and by the time they arrive, the island will already be in lockdown mode, seemingly deserted and losing interest. Thus, the island will be free of evil spirits for another year.

When is Nyepi in Bali?

Nyepi usually falls around March, following the new lunar sequence. In 2025, Nyepi Day will be observed on Saturday, March 29th, 6:00 AM until Sunday, March 30th.  

Should everyone celebrate Nyepi, even tourists?

You don’t have to join in the rituals and ceremonies, but everyone in the island is expected to adhere to the four rules of Nyepi:

  1. Amati Geni: No fire and light
  2. Amati Karya: No work or physical activities
  3. Amati Lelunganan: No movement or traveling outside the home
  4. Amati Lelanguan: No revelry/self-entertainment

Basically, foreigners and non-Balinese Hindu are expected to stay indoors, refraining from outdoor activities outside of your home, hotel, or villa.

What can I do during Nyepi?

If you’re staying in the hotel, you can still enjoy the facilities and amenities they offer. Some may even offer fun activities or promos for guests, from spa packages, movie nights, and more to enjoy the most of your time during your stay. 

If you’re staying in a villa or an Airbnb, you can bask in the complete serenity of the island. You might want to stock up on some food and drinks as there will be no delivery services and shops open during the day. Most shops may even close the day before Nyepi.

Things to avoid during Nyepi:

  • Loud noises: Refrain from making loud noises even when you’re in your own private stay. 
  • Bright lights: When it starts to get dark during Nyepi day, ensure that your windows are covered and curtains closed to avoid any light from leaking. You might receive warning from proper authorities if lights come through from your stay.
  • Going outside: While you might be curious about the absolute silence, going out to the street is strictly prohibited.

With the basics down, you’ll be ready for Nyepi 2025! And after the day of serenity ends, you can stop by Café del Mar Bali to resume your island holiday!

  • Great place to relax with fabulous views and fantastic vibes, food was good and the price is reasonable.

    Tariq A.raheem Avatar Tariq A.raheem
    October 18, 2023
  • First time here and the ambience didn’t disappoint. Our service staff - Cynthia, was really helpful. Helped take a bunch of pictures around the area to capture the best sunsets. We had some snacks (wings & calamari) and churros. All were pretty good. The dipping sauce for the calamari was alittle salty but it was better with the sauce from the wings. :) Happy hour starts at 7pm and it’s really good value. We were there from 430pm - 8pm.

    William Tay Avatar William Tay
    June 26, 2023
  • Just wonderful!!

    Freo Lama Avatar Freo Lama
    June 19, 2023
  • Tera est un serveur au top, il s’est bien occupé de nous, est disponible pour toute demande, Thanks Tera

    Ayoub AARABI Avatar Ayoub AARABI
    June 26, 2023
  • I thought this place was fantastic. The food is the food was fabulous. The staff was great and the atmosphere was fantastic. I actually thought it was better than the one in Thailand

    Robert Duncan Avatar Robert Duncan
    October 12, 2023
  • I like this place.

    Hendrika LT Avatar Hendrika LT
    October 5, 2023
  • If you want to chill in a more laid back beach club with less crowd, this is the place to go! The oysters I ordered were also very fresh and they hv DJ playing nice music also (more on pop songs / EDM)

    Kenny Tang Avatar Kenny Tang
    June 3, 2023
  • First time visited Cafe del Mar Bali on our summer break. Very nice place, great food (we had the fingers food and drinks) and friendly staffs. There was latin sunset on Tuesday.. nice music, great ambience. Will come again if we visit Bali again.

    Mida Hardo Avatar Mida Hardo
    October 16, 2023
  • AMAZING high-end beach club! I spent a whole day here by myself. They open at 12. It's such a beautiful, clean and tranquil place. The pool is very beautifully designed. The water inside there is crystal clear and refreshing. Subtle ibiza vibes. Nice crowd. The food is very tasty and fresh, as well as all the cocktails. The staff is beyond friendly. very attentive and professional. It's my favourite beach club and i've spent 1 month in bali and seen some beach clubs. Highly recommended for anyone who wants a relaxed place with good prices while still upper-scale.

    Anela Cee Avatar Anela Cee
    June 3, 2023
  • Sunsetをみに伺いました。エントランスはフリーです。18:30-20:30 がHappy Hour で カクテル1つ頼むと同じものがfreeになります。 中央のソファや奥のボックス、プール内のソファはミニマムチャージが必要で、バー(スタンディング)と四角いテーブルはノーチャージです。 フレンチフライやタコの唐揚げ、ピザなどの軽食も食べれます◎ バイブスも音楽もとても心地よく、そして何より夕日の時間に行くと素晴らしい景色なのでとてもおすすめです。 またチャングーに来たらこのバーには来たいと思います。素敵な時間をありがとうございました。

    hatsune “hacchan” toda Avatar hatsune “hacchan”
    October 12, 2023