| Nyepi is the famous space-clearing ceremony that | | | | addition, no lights are lighted, no equipments are |
| takes place in Bali every year. Space clearing is the | | | | operated, and no one is allowed to work. All the |
| branch of feng shui that deals with energy, its | | | | electricity supplies are turned off to enforce the law. |
| movement, and its effects on our day-to-day lives. | | | | Everything, all communication, comes to complete |
| Nyepi marks off the beginning of New Year in Bali. | | | | stop on this day. |
| Children set off the fire-crackers as an attempt to | | | | This one day is considered to be the day of |
| scare away the demons and evil spirits. Parades of | | | | contemplation and relaxation. It is the time for |
| hand-crafted demon sculptures are carried out on the | | | | dwelling on what you want in your life for the coming |
| night before the new years. These artificial | | | | year. Most of the people simply relax to mull over |
| paper-made demons are called ogoh-ogoh. They are | | | | the past year, contemplating what they want in the |
| carried on the streets using bamboo frames. | | | | next year. |
| After a grand ceremony, these paper made demons | | | | There is much to be learned from this one ceremony. |
| are offered food and then set to fire on the | | | | This one-day ritual is supposed to perform space |
| crossroads. Balinese believe that the intersections at | | | | clearing for the people of Bali and offer them a |
| the cross roads are the congregation places of evil | | | | complete break from their day to day activities. |
| spirits, which according to them, is why accidents | | | | Richness of spirit and deepness of soul is reflected |
| commonly happen on the cross-roads. They believe | | | | from them after the sacred day. Bali has one of the |
| that by offering these effigies the food and setting | | | | biggest spiritual cultures of all the Asian countries. Bali |
| them to fire, the evil spirits are placated and the | | | | is truly the heaven within our earth and is the |
| cross-roads are purified. | | | | purification center of universe. There is much to be |
| On the day of Nyepi, everything comes to a | | | | learned from the ancient wisdom and spiritual |
| stand-still in Bali. Nobody is allowed to go on roads. No | | | | practices of Balinese culture. Our qualities of life can |
| vehicles are allowed to be operated, and no form of | | | | be immensely improved by integrating some of the |
| transportation is allowed either. Only the essential | | | | Balinese spiritual practices in our day to day life. |
| services are in operation on this sacred day. In | | | | |