Nyepi

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Nyepi is a Hindu holiday which is celebrated every Saka New Year. This day falls on the count of the Tilem Kesanga (IX) which is believed to be the day of purification of the gods who are in the center of the ocean carrying the amerta essence of living water. For this reason, Hindus perform sacred worship towards them.Waisak Day, along with Nyepi Day, is designated as a national holiday based on Indonesian Presidential Decree No. 3 of 1983 dated 19 January 1983.

Understanding Nyepi

Nyepi comes from the word lonely (silent, silent). Nyepi Day is actually a Hindu New Year celebration based on the caka calendar, which began in 78 AD. Unlike the Christian New Year celebrations, the Saka New Year in Bali begins with seclusion. No activity as usual. All activities were canceled, including public services, such as the closing of the International Airport, but not for hospitals.

The main purpose of Nyepi Day is to pray before God Almighty, to purify Bhuana Alit (human nature / microcosmos) and Bhuana Agung / macrocosmos (universe). Before Nyepi, there are several series of ceremonies performed by Hindus, especially in Bali.

Melasti, Tawur (Pecupdate), and Pengrupukan

The procession of implementing "Tawur Kesanga" before Nyepi the next day in the city of Samarinda.

Ogoh-ogoh which is being paraded in the Ngrupuk area during the Bhuta Yajna ceremony.

Three or two days before Nyepi, Hindus perform purification by performing a Melasti ceremony or also known as Melis / Mekiyis. On that day, all prayer facilities in the temple (holy place) are paraded to the beach or lake, because the sea or lake is a source of holy water (tirta amerta) and can purify all leteh (dirty) in humans and nature.

The day before Nyepi, namely at "tilem sasih kesanga" (the 9th dead month), Hindus carry out the Buta Yadnya ceremony at all levels of society, starting from each family, banjar, village, district, and so on, by taking the wrong one of the kinds of caru (a kind of offering) according to his ability. The blind Yadnya are named Pañca Sata (small), Pañca Sanak (medium), and Tawur Agung (large). Tawur or pecupdate itself is a purification / pemarisuda of Buta Kala, and all leteh (defilement) are expected to disappear altogether. Caru, which is held in each house, consists of 9 tanding / package of foreign rice (five) colors and their side dishes, such as brumbun chicken (colorful) accompanied by tetabuhan arak / tuak. This Buta Yadnya was addressed to the Blind Raja, Buta Kala and Batara Kala, by begging them not to disturb the people.

Mecaru is followed by a pengerupukan ceremony, which is spreading tawur rice, destroying the house and entire yard, spraying houses and yards with gunpowder, and hitting any object (usually kentongan) until it makes a loud noise. This stage is carried out to expel Blind Kala from the environment of the house, yard, and the surrounding environment. Particularly in Bali, pengrupukan is usually enlivened by ogoh-ogoh parades, which are the manifestation of Buta Kala being paraded around the neighborhood, and then burned. The goal is the same, namely to expel Buta Kala from the surrounding environment.

The highlight of the Nyepi event

The next day, at the pisan pinanggal, Sasih Kedasa (1st, 10th month), the real Nyepi Day arrived. On this day the atmosphere was dead. There is no busy activity as usual. On this day Hindus perform "Catur Brata" Penyepian which consists of amati geni (not burning / not using and / or starting a fire), observing works (not working), observing lelungan (not traveling), and observing auctionuan entertainment). As well as those who are able to also carry out asceticism, brata, yoga, and semadhi. On this day the Hindus do not carry out their usual activities at all. The environment looks deserted, instead it looks like a dead city, there are no lights on, everyone is silent in their homes.

So for the new era, it really begins with a new, pure white page. Even to start life in the Caka New Year, this basis is used, so that everything we do starts from being pure and clean. Every knowledgeable person (the wruhing tattwa jñana) performs brata (restraint of lust), yoga (associating the soul with paramatma (God)), tapa (the practice of suffering endurance), and samadi (merging with God, whose ultimate goal is purity of the inner and outer) .All of that is a necessity for Hindus to have inner readiness to face every challenge of life in the new year.

Ngembak Geni (Shooting Fire)

The last series of the Saka New Year celebration is the day of Ngembak Geni which falls on "pinanggal ping kalih" (2nd) Sasih Kedasa (month X). On this day, the Saka New Year enters its second day. Hindus practice Dharma Shanti with extended family and neighbors, give thanks and forgive each other (ksama) to one another, to start a clean new year. The essence of Dharma Santi is the Tattwamasi philosophy which views that all humans in all corners of the earth as creations of Ida Sanghyang Widhi Wasa should love one another, forgive all mistakes and mistakes. Live in harmony and peace.

Source: wikipedia