Nyepi is a Hindu feast celebrated every year New Saka. Today it falls on the Tilem Kesanga (IX) count which is believed to be the day of purification of the gods at the center of the ocean carrying the essence of living water. For that Hindus to worship sacred against them.
Nyepi comes from the word quiet (silent, silent). Nyepi Day is actually a Hindu New Year celebration based on calendar / calendar caka, which began in the year 78 AD. Unlike the celebration of the New Year, the New Year of Saka in Bali begins with solitude. No activity as usual. All activities were abandoned, including public services, such as the International Airport was closed, but not to the hospital.The ultimate goal of Nyepi Day is to plead before God Almighty, to sanctify Bhuana Alit (human nature / microcosmos) and Great Bhuana / macrocosmos (universe). Before Hari Raya Nyepi, there are several series of ceremonies performed by Hindus, especially in the area of Bali.
Melasti, Tawur (Pecaruan), and Pengrupukan
Three or two days before Nyepi, Hindus perform Purgatory by performing a Melasti ceremony or also called Melis / Mekiyis. On that day, all the means of worship in the temple (shrine) are paraded to the beach or lake, because the sea or lake is the source of holy water (tirta amerta) and can purify all the (dirty) leteh in human and nature.
The day before Nyepi, on "tilem sasih kesanga" (the ninth month of death), Hindu people perform their Blind Yad ceremony at all levels of society, starting from each family, banjar, desa, kecamatan, and so forth, taking the wrong one of a kind caru (according to his ability). Yadnya blind each named Pañca Sata (small), Pañca Sanak (medium), and Tawur Agung (large). Tawur or renewal itself is a cleansing / pemuda Blind Kala, and all leteh (defilement) is expected to disappear all. Caru which is done in each house consists of 9 (five) colored rice / package with its side dishes, such as brumbun chicken (colorful) with tetabuhan arak / tuak. Yadnya blind is addressed to the Blind King, Blind Kala and Batara Kala, by pleading that they do not disturb the people.
Mecaru was followed by a ritual ceremony, spreading the tawur rice, burrowing the house and the whole yard, splashing the house and yard with gunpowder, and hitting any objects (usually kentongan) to a noisy / noisy voice. This stage is done to repel blind Kala from home environment, yard, and environment. Especially in Bali, pengrupukan usually enlivened with ogoh-ogoh parade which is the embodiment of blind Kala who paraded around the environment, and then burned. The goal is the same that drive away Blind Kala from the surrounding environment.
The highlight of Nyepi Event
The next day, which is on the pin of pisan, sasih Kedasa (the 1st, the 10th month), came the real Nyepi Day. On this day the atmosphere is like death. No activity as usual. On this day Hindus carry out the "Chatur Brata" The loneliness consists of observing the geni (not fiery / not using and or turning the fire on), observe the work (not working), observe the aisle (not traveling), and observe the auction (not listening entertainment). And for those who are able to also perform tapa, brata, yoga, and semadhi.
So for the new age, it really starts with a new, clean white page. To start life in Caka's new year, this foundation is used, so everything we do begins from nothing, holy and clean. Everyone of knowledge (the wruhing tattwa jñana) carries out brata (lust), yoga (attributing the soul to paramatma (God)), tapa (suffering endurance training), and samadi (unity to God, whose ultimate goal is inward spiritual sanctity) .All of that becomes a must for Hindus to have the inner readiness to face every challenge of life in the new year.
Shoot Geni (Fire Shoot)
The last series of Saka New Year celebrations is the day of Ngembak Geni which falls on "pinanggal ping kalih" (dated 2) sasih kedasa (month X). On this day New Year Saka is entering the second day. Hindus do Dharma Shanti with big families and neighbors, give thanks and forgive each other (ksama) to each other, to start a clean new year sheets. Inti Dharma Santi is a Tattwamasi philosophy which sees that all human beings in all corners of the earth as Ida Sanghyang's creation Widhi Wasa should love one another, forgive all mistakes and mistakes. Live in harmony and peace
