Indonesia’s resort island Bali fell quiet on March 7 for the annual “Day of Silence” festival, halting flights, internet and closing tourist attractions to allow time for meditation and introspection.
Colourful effigies known as Ogoh-Ogoh are paraded through the streets before being burned, representing renewal and purification.(Photo: AFP)
Jakarta (VNA) – Indonesia’s resort island Bali fell quiet on March 7for the annual “Day of Silence” festival, halting flights, internet and closingtourist attractions to allow time for meditation and introspection.
Known locally as Nyepi, the festival marks a new year of Hindus on the island.They are expected to stay at home for 24 hours and self-reflect on the day.
Non-Hindus and tourists are also asked to participate by staying indoors forthe island’s annual shutdown.
Cars and motorcycles are not allowed on the road except in the case of anemergency, lights inside homes and on the street must be switched off, andtourist attractions and shopping centres are all closed.
Ngurah Rai International Airport announcedit would close for 24 hours starting from 6am on March 7, affecting 468flights, including 207 international ones.
Local authorities also ordered mobileinternet providers to shut down for the day, except for essential public services.
A day before the Nyepi, the island held its annual ritual to ward off demonsand evil spirits. In the parade, colourful effigies known as Ogoh-Ogoh wereparaded through the streets before being burned, representing renewal andpurification.
Indonesia is a Muslim-majority country but more than 80 percent of Bali’spopulation identify as Hindu and practice a local version of the religion.Tourists flock to the island on Nyepi festival to enjoy an atmosphere oftranquility and peace once a year there.-VNA
Ngurah Rai International Airport in the Indonesian tourist island of Bali was closed on June 29 following the volcanic eruption of Mount Agung in the island one day earlier.
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Colourful effigies known as Ogoh-Ogoh are paraded through the streets before being burned, representing renewal and purification.(Photo: AFP) 
