For the Balinese, Nyepi is the "Day of Silence". This day is commemorated every Isakawarsa (the Saka new year), This year it falls on March 25, 2020
It's hard for me to write anything these days. There are plenty times to do so, but the whole situation with Covid-19 is quiet overwhelming for me.
Even to pick a topic is quiet hard, I would joke to a friend from U.S. and told her "uh ahh... I would write 'Love at the time of Covid-19' and we both would laugh but both knows that the laughter last 10 seconds. Really not a funny situations to be.
So here goes,
On the day of silence, the Balinese took the moment for a self reflection, anything that is considered activities will not be done. No lights, no electricity, no travelling, no fire, no cooking, no internet, no cable TV, no talking, sometimes not even eating.
It is a 24 hours of total blackout. For some of you, it sounds like a lock-down with even worst facilities!
Every year before Seclusion day (this year will be March 6, 2019); there are ogoh-ogoh parade during the Pengerupukan day. Ogoh-ogoh is paper mache-huge size-shaped creatures that are built for the Ngerupuk parade. The ogoh-ogoh are normally forms of mythological beings, mostly demons. As with many creative endeavours based on Balinese Hinduism; the creation of ogoh-ogoh represents spiritual aims inspired by Hindu philosophy. This year, all the ogoh-ogoh just sits quietly inside the outer court of the temple.
The main purpose of the making of ogoh-ogoh is the purification of the natural environment of any spiritual pollutants emitted from the activities of living beings (especially humans). The forms of ogoh-ogoh represent the Bhuta-Kala (=eternal energy of eternal time), according to Hindu teachings. The imperceptible potentials of nature cannot be thoroughly explored by anyone. Philosophically, civilized men are required to manage the natural resources without damaging the environment itself.
Aside from being the symbol of Bhuta-Kala, ogoh-ogoh is considered a symbol of modes of nature that form the malicious characters of living beings. Each village usually build one ogoh-ogoh mainly build by each village's youth organization, but often some smaller ogoh-ogoh also built by groups of children around the village. Some artist also usually build one. After being paraded on a convoy around the town, finally it is burnt to ashes in a cemetery as a symbol of self-purification.
The bamboo-padded ogoh-ogoh are normally being carried on eight or more men on their shoulders. This procession is accompanied by orchestral music performed by the youth. The use of flares is also a main part of the parade.
During the procession, the Ogoh-ogoh is rotated counter-clockwise three times. This act is done at every T-junction and crossroad of the village. Rotating the effigies during the cremational parade and the eve of Nyepi represents the contact of the bodies with the spirits. It is intended to bewilder the evil spirits so that they go away and cease harming human beings.
Then, on the day after Nyepi (that will be March 8, 2019); known as Ngembak Geni (Relighting the Fire), social activity picks up again quickly, as families and friends gather to ask forgiveness from one another, and to perform certain religious rituals together. Fires and electricity are allowed again, and cooking of food resumes. This year, some banjars just displayed their ogoh-ogoh outside the temple and didn't parade them due to social distancing.
Happy Saka New Year my dear Balinese friends...
Stay home and stay safe you all...
xxx
