After the hustle and bustle of ogoh-ogoh (giant papier-mache effigy) street parade the night before, Bali descended into complete silence and darkness on Tuesday.
From 6 a.m, people all over the island halted their activities for 24 hours during Nyepi, which marks the Saka New Year 1932.
On the Day of Silence, devotees followed four religious principles called Catur Berata Penyepian, comprising amati geni or no fire, amati karya or no work, amati lelungan or no travelling and amati lelanguan or no entertainment and pleasure.
These principles are applied in order to increase their quality of life in the upcoming year.
Those with higher spiritual ability or willing to have higher spiritual life performed further prohibitions, include fasting by not eating or drinking, staying still by not talking, and meditating by focusing the mind on their god and praying.
Early in the morning, the devotees prepared offerings in sanggah (small temples built in each house) and performed prayers with their families before they began the Catur Berata Penyepian.
In tourist spot Kuta, shops were closed and streets were left empty as tourists were advised not to go outside hotels. Only pecalang (traditional security officers) are allowed outside.
"For this Nyepi, we deployed 39 pecalang from 13 banjar *customary village* to monitor Kuta area. We also cooperated with officers from the police and the military," said Made Darsana, deputy chief of Desa Pekraman Kuta.
The security team established a temporary post on Jl. Raya Kuta intersection, with some pecalang patrolling the area and some staying at the post.
Made added the security team had found no disturbances during the day.
Kuta shoreline, which is usually packed with tourists and small traders, was fully empty and quiet.
Those who do not observe Nyepi demonstrated a growing tolerance toward Hindu devotees, said Made Dana, a pecalang from Banjar Segara.
"This area is heterogeneous, with many people from different religious and cultural backgrounds. Most understand the situation and they show respect and tolerance by not having any outdoor activities, including foreign tourists," he said.
"Last night, we were informed that a Muslim resident died on Jl. Sadasari. We advised the family to bury the deceased on Wednesday. They didn't mind," said the man who has been a pecalang for 12 years.
Some hotels and resorts offered special Nyepi packages for guests, including special meals, a kid zone facility and yoga classes.
