Firdia Lisnawati
Streets deserted, airport closes for Bali's Day of Silence
Balinese men walk under flaming coconut leaves at Pundukdawa village during cleansing procession from evil spirit called "Mebubu" before Nyepi, the annual day of silence marking Balinese Hindu new year in Bali, Indonesia, Friday, March 16, 2018. Bali's annual Day of Silence is so sacred that even reaching for a smartphone to send a tweet or upload a selfie to social media could cause offense. This year it will be nearly impossible to do that anyway, all phone companies have agreed to shut down the mobile internet for 24 hours on Saturday during the holiday that marks the New Year on the predominantly Hindu island. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)
Firdia Lisnawati
Streets deserted, airport closes for Bali's Day of Silence
Balinese men walk under flaming coconut leaves at Pundukdawa village during cleansing procession from evil spirit called "Mebubu" before Nyepi, the annual day of silence marking Balinese Hindu new year in Bali, Indonesia, Friday, March 16, 2018. Bali's annual Day of Silence is so sacred that even reaching for a smartphone to send a tweet or upload a selfie to social media could cause offense. This year it will be nearly impossible to do that anyway, all phone companies have agreed to shut down the mobile internet for 24 hours on Saturday during the holiday that marks the New Year on the predominantly Hindu island. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)
Firdia Lisnawati
Streets deserted, airport closes for Bali's Day of Silence
Balinese men fight with flaming coconut leaves during the fire fight ritual called 'Lukat Gni' before Nyepi, the annual day of silence marking Balinese Hindu new year, in Klungkung, Bali, Indonesia, Friday, March 16, 2018. Bali's annual Day of Silence is so sacred that even reaching for a smartphone to send a tweet or upload a selfie to social media could cause offense. This year it will be nearly impossible to do that anyway, all phone companies have agreed to shut down the mobile internet for 24 hours on Saturday during the holiday that marks the New Year on the predominantly Hindu island. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)
Firdia Lisnawati
Streets deserted, airport closes for Bali's Day of Silence
Balinese men walk under flaming coconut leaves at Pundukdawa village during cleansing procession from evil spirit called "Mebubu" before Nyepi, the annual day of silence marking Balinese Hindu new year in Bali, Indonesia, Friday, March 16, 2018. Bali's annual Day of Silence is so sacred that even reaching for a smartphone to send a tweet or upload a selfie to social media could cause offense. This year it will be nearly impossible to do that anyway, all phone companies have agreed to shut down the mobile internet for 24 hours on Saturday during the holiday that marks the New Year on the predominantly Hindu island. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)
Firdia Lisnawati
Streets deserted, airport closes for Bali's Day of Silence
A Balinese man is hit with flaming coconut leaves during the fire fight ritual called 'Lukat Gni' before Nyepi, the annual day of silence marking Balinese Hindu new year in Klungkung, Bali, Indonesia, Friday, March 16, 2018. Bali's annual Day of Silence is so sacred that even reaching for a smartphone to send a tweet or upload a selfie to social media could cause offense. This year it will be nearly impossible to do that anyway, all phone companies have agreed to shut down the mobile internet for 24 hours on Saturday during the holiday that marks the New Year on the predominantly Hindu island. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)
Firdia Lisnawati
Streets deserted, airport closes for Bali's Day of Silence
A Balinese man is hit with flaming coconut leaves during the fire fight ritual called 'Lukat Gni' before Nyepi, the annual day of silence marking Balinese Hindu new year in Klungkung, Bali, Indonesia, Friday, March 16, 2018. Bali's annual Day of Silence is so sacred that even reaching for a smartphone to send a tweet or upload a selfie to social media could cause offense. This year it will be nearly impossible to do that anyway, all phone companies have agreed to shut down the mobile internet for 24 hours on Saturday during the holiday that marks the New Year on the predominantly Hindu island. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)
Fauzy Chaniago
Streets deserted, airport closes for Bali's Day of Silence
Balinese traditional guards called "pecalang" patrol a normally busy toll road during the "Nyepi" or the Day of Silence in Badung, Bali, Indonesia, March 17, 2018 in Badung regency, Bali, Indonesia. Indonesia's normally bustling Bali has shut down social media, turned away flights and shuttered all shops for a Day of Silence that marks New Year on the predominantly Hindu island. (AP Photo/Fauzy Chaniago)
Fauzy Chaniago
Streets deserted, airport closes for Bali's Day of Silence
A Balinese traditional guard called "pecalang" patrols a normally busy Ngurah Rai International Airport during the "Nyepi" or the Day of Silence in Badung, Bali, Indonesia, March 17, 2018 in Badung regency, Bali, Indonesia. Indonesia's normally bustling Bali has shut down social media, turned away flights and shuttered all shops for a Day of Silence that marks New Year on the predominantly Hindu island. (AP Photo/Fauzy Chaniago)
Fauzy Chaniago
Streets deserted, airport closes for Bali's Day of Silence
Balinese traditional guards called "pecalang" patrol a normally busy toll road during the "Nyepi" or the Day of Silence in Badung, Bali, Indonesia, March 17, 2018 in Badung regency, Bali, Indonesia. Indonesia's normally bustling Bali has shut down social media, turned away flights and shuttered all shops for a Day of Silence that marks New Year on the predominantly Hindu island. (AP Photo/Fauzy Chaniago)
Firdia Lisnawati
Streets deserted, airport closes for Bali's Day of Silence
A Balinese man is hit with flaming coconut leaves during the fire fight ritual called 'Lukat Gni' before Nyepi, the annual day of silence marking Balinese Hindu new year in Klungkung, Bali, Indonesia, Friday, March 16, 2018. Bali's annual Day of Silence is so sacred that even reaching for a smartphone to send a tweet or upload a selfie to social media could cause offense. This year it will be nearly impossible to do that anyway, all phone companies have agreed to shut down the mobile internet for 24 hours on Saturday during the holiday that marks the New Year on the predominantly Hindu island. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)
Posted: Friday, March 16, 2018 10:29 pm
|
Updated: 10:46 pm, Fri Mar 16, 2018.
Streets deserted, airport closes for Bali's Day of Silence
Associated Press |
BALI, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia's normally bustling Bali has shut down social media, turned away flights and shuttered all shops for a Day of Silence that marks New Year on the predominantly Hindu island.
"Nyepi" began at 6 a.m. on Saturday, emptying streets and beaches for 24 hours except for special patrols to ensure silence is observed. This year for the first time, phone companies have agreed to turn off the mobile internet on the island that's home to more than 4 million people.
Aside from no Facebook, Instagram or instant messaging apps, television and radio broadcasts cease and Balinese stay indoors, covering the windows and not even turning on a light, for the day of reflection that is the most sacred in Balinese Hinduism.
"Nyepi is the time for us to wash our hearts and minds of bad thoughts and deeds, plead with God to purify ourselves, human beings and the universe," said Kadek Chantini, a Bali tour guide.
Not everyone was happy with the decision to disrupt internet access, saying it was going too far and an inconvenience for tourists and non-Hindu residents of Bali, but others welcomed it.
"It will certainly provide a quieter atmosphere so we can focus and concentrate on perfecting our meditation and prayers," said Komang Suda, a resident of Denpasar, the Bali provincial capital.
"The decision also really helps us in disciplining our teenagers who sometimes sneak off to play with their gadgets during Nyepi," he said.
The night before Nyepi is marked by noisy "ogoh-ogoh" processions of giant scary figures representing evil spirits.
Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
© 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Posted in
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Friday, March 16, 2018 10:29 pm.
Updated: 10:46 pm.
| Tags:
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Hinduism,
Religion,
Social Affairs,
Social Media,
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| Location Tags:
Bali,
Indonesia,
Southeast Asia,
Asia
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