But for the adventurous and those who want to tour around and see more of the island, Nyepi will not be much fun as they will not be allowed to go anywhere. Here are some suggestions on how to survive and enjoy Nyepi in Bali.

1. Watch the ‘melasti’ processions leading up to ‘Nyepi’

Three days leading up to the turn of the Saka New Year and its full day of silence, Balinese Hindus get into lively and colorful procession mode, in which pilgrims from various village temples all over Bali carry heirlooms on long walks to the coastline, where elaborate purification ceremonies take place. It is one of the best times to capture on camera one of the most iconic Balinese images in motion. Beaches around Kuta are popular locations to watch this cultural spectacle.

Read also: Melasti purification ritual graces Yogyakarta beach

2. See the parade of ‘ogoh-ogoh’ giants on the eve of ‘Nyepi’

The best creations of giant papier-mâché effigies are paraded on village streets on the evening before the Day of Silence. Traffic in the main resort areas is usually rerouted, so it is best to plan ahead on where you want to watch the parade. The center of Denpasar city, as well as Kuta and Ubud are popular hot spots.

3. Enjoy staying inside the hotel area with all its activities

Hotels in Bali are well geared to offer their guests the best experiences during Nyepi, which basically confines them to their resort grounds. Guest activities at higher-end resorts can be enjoyed as usual, ranging from swimming and kids’ club facilities to tailored in-house activities such as resort garden fun and games. While the little ones are busy with their activities and are taken care of by hotel staff, parents can pamper themselves with a spa treatment.

4. Stargazing in complete darkness

As the entire island will turn off all the lights for 24 hours on Nyepi, it is a perfect moment to watch the clear sky full of bright shining stars. You can simply pick a spot by the pool to lay back and gaze at the wonders of the universe and capture some stunning images.

5. Watch the ‘omed-omedan’ kissing festival the day after

Omed-omedan is held on the day after Nyepi. It is not an island-wide occasion but only takes place on one of the streets of Banjar Kaja village, Sesetan, in southern Denpasar.

The whole village descends to cheer on participating youths who get in line for the festival, which includes a “push-and-pull” ritual between females and males. Prearranged couples line up to eventually be pushed toward their partner on the other side, to kiss and embrace for a very brief moment before cheerfully being pulled apart again.

Popular

The fragile promise of pluralism, religious freedom in Southeast Asia

Coffee, gold push up inflation to 1.95 percent in April

Power begins to return after outage in Indonesia's Bali island