Nyepi

[riyadhcrew]

Nyepi is a Balinese "Day of Silence" that is commemorated every Isakawarsa (Saka new year) according to the Balinese calendar (in 2017, it falls on March 28). It is a Hindu celebration mainly celebrated in Bali, Indonesia. Nyepi, a public holiday in Indonesia, is a day of silence, fasting and meditation for the Balinese. 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.

Observed from 6 a.m. until 6 a.m. the next morning, Nyepi is a day reserved for self-reflection, and as such, anything that might interfere with that purpose is restricted. The main restrictions are no lighting fires (and lights must be kept low); no working; no entertainment or pleasure; no traveling; and, for some, no talking or eating at all. The effect of these prohibitions is that Bali's usually bustling streets and roads are empty, there is little or no noise from TVs and radios, and few signs of activity are seen even inside homes. The only people to be seen outdoors are the Pecalang, traditional security men who patrol the streets to ensure the prohibitions are being followed.

Although Nyepi is primarily a Hindu holiday, non-Hindu residents and tourists are not exempt from the restrictions. Although they are free to do as they wish inside their hotels and homes, no one is allowed onto the beaches or streets, and the only airport in Bali remains closed for the entire day. The only exceptions granted are for emergency vehicles responding to life-threatening conditions and women about to give birth.

On the day after Nyepi, known as Ngembak Geni, social activity picks up again quickly, as families and friends gather to ask forgiveness from one another, and to perform certain religious rituals together.

What this means peeps is that there are New Year's Eve parties on the streets tonight and then the place is ''shut-down'' for 24 hours from tomorrow morning at 6.00am. 

No bars, no restaurants, no supemarkets, no taxis, no nothing.

Stay in bed day I think.

[Gracie]

That is absolutely fascinating, I never knew that, it's amazing what we can learn from this Forum, thank you for that Eric

My advice to you would be to party until 6am, sleep it off for the rest of the day, wake up at 6pm, have a nice meal and a glass of wine, watch EastEnders and go back to bed lol

Have a nice time tonight

Grace

[Bound2Please]

Agrees with yer darlin except the TV programe, so far from how life really is its untrue.

Charlie Eric

[deebee29]

I was with you up to the Eastenders bit Grace 

Seriously though, I'd never heard of this day of silence. Very interesting

 

[Gracie]

Ok, ok so I watch EastEnders, so shoot me lol Careful now Dave, remember what we were talking about the other day don't you?  I have friends from the East End of London and believe me I know they are nothing like the characters in the soap

Sorry Eric for going off this wonderful topic, it's not my fault, I would never do that

Please keep us informed of this brilliant tradition, will you be able to use your computer? Perhaps you can chat to us lot all day, better than EastEnders any day of the week

Grace

 

[riyadhcrew]

I'm hoping the electricity and the data lines are OK. If something breaks, nobody is allowed to travel or work. At least - that is what is being said.

[Hockham Admiral]

Are you allowed to sit in your back garden with a jug of Pimms (or G&T)?    

[riyadhcrew]

If nobody can see you and you are quiet, you can just about do what you want within the confines of your house.

[riyadhcrew]

It's 2.00pm here in Bali and I just went outside the front door into the courtyard. 

It is silent - no dogs barking - no traffic noise - no nothing. Even the local cockerel is quiet.

Absolutely amazing!!!!!!

[riyadhcrew]

It's 8.15pm now and my girls just pulled me outside to have a look at the sky. With no street lights or any shining lights, it is absolutely black.

The sky is beautiful and the stars are everywhere.

[riyadhcrew]

Well peeps, it's 20 years ago tonight that a 45 year old bloke met a 24 year old lady. Friends laughed and said it was infatuation and wouldn't last a week.

Taken a long time to be infatuated - going for a nice dinner to celebrate.

[Bound2Please]

Congratulations to you and the Mrs Eric

Charlie

[Hockham Admiral]

To you both:     

[Gracie]

My warmest congratulations to you both, I was raised in the belief there is no boundaries in love and friendship, regardless of age, race or gender, a man from Scotland marries a much younger, beautiful woman from Bali and still together after twenty years, enough said

Have a lovely evening

Grace

[deebee29]

Congratulations to you both 

[AdnamsGirl]

That's lovely - many congratulations to you both.

I got married three weeks after my 18th birthday - my OH was nearly 6 years older than me and my dad said it wouldn't last a year.

It will be our 33rd wedding anniversary in June

 

Carol

[NorfolkNog]

Ssshhhh! Giving your age away Carol!  

[ExSurveyor]

Congratulations to you both. 

Matron was 17 and a half and I was just nineteen ,, ( no shotguns were involved ) they said,  give it six months. Coming up for 39 years later we stay together to spite them. 

[JennyMorgan]

Just now, NorfolkNog said:

Ssshhhh! Giving your age away Carol!  

Carol wears her age incredibly well!

[NorfolkNog]

I definitely wouldn't disagree with you there Peter!

(we'll have Carol blushing at this rate)

[YnysMon]

When Graham and I met I was in the sixth form and he was in the fifth. I had to 'demean' myself and visit the lower school lunchtimes to see him.  That's love! I didn't half feel like a cradle snatcher (there's only six months between our ages).  That was 40 years ago. Our relationship also survived going to different Universities. (Now there's a test of commitment!)  We got married a week after Graham's graduation.