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Every society in the world should have the Nyepi holiday. This holiday
is the Balinese New Year called Içaka New Year. It is a day of total
silence throughout the island. No activity is whatsoever is allowed, no
traffic at all on the roads, no fire may be lit, use of electricity is
banned (except in the tourist hotels).
Purification and sacrificial
rites are held the day before - culminating at night with Ogoh-Ogoh
dancing through the villages. The Ogoh-Ogoh are large demon images
carried about the villages joined by all the men trying to make as much
noise as possible. The idea is to wake up all the evil spirits on Bali
then on Nyepi when the spirits return, Bali is absolutely quiet and the
spirits, not able to find anyone, leave the island for good. |