Jakarta (Antara Babel) - Nyepi, a Day of Silence that fell on Tuesday March 28 this year was commemorated peacefully on Tuesday in a number of areas in this Muslim predominated country.
Quietness and total darkness marked the observation of Catur Brata (four types of self control) by not lighting fires (lights must be kept low); no working; no entertainment or pleasure.
It is commemorated for 24 hours, mainly in Bali with fasting and meditation from 6.00 on Tuesday morning to 6.00 the next morning.
In Bali, a world famous tourist island with a population of 4.3 million, the Hindus stayed at home to observe Catur Brata and introspection for 24 hours.
In all part of the Hindus predominated island, which are normally crowded with foreign tourists quietness prevailed. Although Nyepi is primarily a Hindu holiday, non-Hindu residents and tourists not exempted from the restrictions. Foreigners in Nusa Dua, Bali, were allowed only to do activities in their own hotels. Although they were free to do as they wish inside their hotels, no one was allowed to go to the beaches or streets, and the only airport in Bali remains closed for the entire day. The only exceptions granted were for emergency vehicles responding to life-threatening conditions and women about to give birth.
Inactivities were also prevailed in the Monang-Maning complex in Denpasar . In the complex with 2,500 families, high tolerance was shown among people of different religious faiths .
The Day of Silence is commemorated every Isakawarsa (Saka new year) according to the Balinese calendar. It is a Hindu celebration . Nyepi is a public holiday in Indonesia, a day of fasting and meditation. The day following Nyepi is also celebrated as New Year's Day.On this day, the youth of Bali practice the ceremony of Omed-omedan or 'The Kissing Ritual' to celebrate the new year. The same day celebrated in India as ugadi.
On the day after Nyepi, known as Ngembak Geni, social activity picked up quickly, as families and friends gather to ask forgiveness from one another, and to perform certain religious rituals together.
Hindus are a small minority but they are found in various part of the country from Java to Maluku. Report from far off Ambon, Maluku, said a group of Hindus chose to observe Nyepi at the temple of Pura Stana Giri Ciwa, at Taman Makmur, in the sub-district of Nusaniwe.
Tens of Hindus gathered at the temple from early Tuesday to pray. They prayed together at the temple decorated with yellow and white ornaments unperturbed by the noise and ripples of the Ambon sea.
There was nothing much that drew attention in the religious rituals in Ambon on Tuesday when the faithfuls prayed three times from morning to night.
However, on Monday, a day before Nyepi and the observance of the Catur Brata, groups of Hindus held a procession of Tawur Agung Kesanga parading in a number of streets in the city with a big doll, the image of evil ghost.
Tawur Agung Kesanga procession is a ritual for Hindus to say prayer of thankfulness and for blessing from Gods and Goddesses. They danced to welcome the Gods and Goddesses.
Tawur Agung Kesanga is one of four main rituals in observing Nyepi. The three other rituals are Melasti, Catur Brata, and Ngembak Geni.
This ritual is to ask for neutralizing negative energy of greed (bethorokolo) to create harmony, prosperity, and peace for all people.
The day before, on Sunday, the Hindus in Ambon also carried out religious ritual of Melasti to purify all facilities and infrastructure for praying on the Negeri Halong beach in the sub-district of Sirimau.
Similarly in Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan, quietness prevailed in the commemoration of the Day of Silence. There was no noticeable activity at the temple of Pura Pitamaha as well as in the house of the Hindus - in contrast with the celebrations of Ied ul Fitri by Muslims and Christmas by Christians.
What was noticeable was high tolerance, shown by the majority non Hindu people around the temple.
A series of ritual processions by the Hindus including purification of their bodies and heirlooms at the temple were carried out peacefully.
In Jakarta, groups of Hindus gathered at a number of temples praying to observe the Catur Brata such as at the Pura Aditya Jaya, Rawamangun.
Similar to what was seen in Ambon and Bali yellow and white decorations and ornaments were dominant including in dresses worn by he faithfuls.
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) called on all people to take substance of Nyepi commemoration to heighten spirit and optimism.
Jokowi asked the people to be introspective and purify oneself from any wrong doings on the occasion of Nyepi.
"We set ourselves free from anger, hatred, and bad behaviors. We build up optimism and spirit," the president said in his official twitter.
