Everyday for a year long, we have to wake up and juggle between work, play, and rest. Everyday we live life to the fullest, and keep the gear spinning in order to balance our economic necessities, education, leisure, and other aspects we consider important.

While Balinese, they pick one day. Only one day, from the Hindu Saka calendar, where everyone has to stop the gear from working.

It means a day when no electricity should be sparked. No fire should be lit. No one should be working, and no one should be playing. We call it Nyepi Day, or in English, the Silence Day.

The Balinese is very strict about Nyepi Day. Airport and harbours are shut down. TV and radio stations don’t broadcast. All business are closed.

For exactly 24 hours, Bali leaves Capitalism behind.

With nightfall comes, the entire Bali is pitch dark. There are no lights, no noises, no movements. The Balinese are inside their home, fasting, praying, meditating. Breathe in and breathe out. They have plenty of food on the table from a big celebration a day before, but they won’t touch them.

It is a day dedicated to contemplate. To focus on the essence of life, and what we have achieved or failed to achieve as a good human being.

And while all the activities calm down, nature takes over.

The moon seems to shine the brightest. You can see the sparkling Milky Way so grand and beautiful even when you’re at the centre of a big city.

For Balinese, Nyepi is a sacred day. A day to maintain the harmony between physical and spiritual life. To get back to our senses and for the next day to proceed our year long routine with refreshed selves.

May peace always be bestowed upon us,

Aj.