Jakarta - Millions of residents and tourists on the popular
Indonesian resort island of Bali on Monday celebrated the annual 'Day
of Silence,' a Hindu New Year's observance during which the island
shuts down and people are banned from the streets.
The New Year, called Nyepi, is one of the most important religious
events for Balinese Hindus, and this year, they welcomed the Saka New
Year of 1929.
At midnight Sunday, the island's seaports, bus stations and
airport closed down, not to reopen until 6 a.m. Tuesday (2300 GMT
Monday), when the new Hindu year officially begins.
Bali's famous beaches were deserted, and residents and visitors
alike were required to remain indoors and keep any conversations
quiet. More than 4 million Balinese Hindus were fasting and
meditating throughout the day and praying for a better future.
They are forbidden from lighting fires and turning on lights,
televisions or radios during the 24-hour period on the vacation spot
known as 'Paradise Island.'
Foreign visitors have been informed to stay in their hotels or
guest lodgings, where they can still be served meals and relax -
quietly - indoors or by the swimming pool.
The island was guarded by traditional Balinese security guards,
locally called 'Pecalang,' to ensure all people abide by the holiday
regulations.
Prior to New Year's Day, Balinese Hindus conducted a series of
rituals that began Friday when thousands paraded to local beaches for
the 'Melasti' - the cleansing of utensils and, more importantly,
their souls. It symbolizes the purification of the earth and the
universe through the removal of evil elements.
On New Year's Eve, joyful residents took part in a noisy parade
carrying huge paper-made effigies, known as 'Ogoh-Ogoh,' which they
burned before sunrise to symbolize all evil leaving the island ahead
of the New Year.
Similar rituals were also held by Hindu followers on
Muslim-majority Java, including in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta.
Local media reported that thousands of non-Balinese Hindus opted
to leave the island and spend the holiday on Java or the nearby
tourist island of Lombok.
Indonesia has the world's largest Muslim population at more than
190 million but also has minority Hindus, Christians, Buddhists and
animists.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur 
USA
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