New Year’s Day in Bali is unlike any other celebration in the world. Most affiliate the holiday with extravagant fireworks, gaudy ensembles, and large parties. Bali, on the other hand, celebrates the Saka New Year, called Nyepi, the day of silence.It is the day when all inhabitants of the island are required to abide by the rules and bring all activities to a halt for 24 hours. Expect empty streets and complete silence across the island, even in the busiest tourist spots.
Celebrations come before the New Year’s Day. Village meeting halls known as Banjar prepare papier-mâché effigies called Ogoh-Ogoh that are built throughout the weeks leading up to the New Year. The younger crowds are responsible for designing and building the mythical figures with bamboo-work to symbolise malevolent ‘spirits.’
Three days prior to the silence highlight the rituals of colorful processions known as the Melasti pilgrimages. This is when long walks on the coastline and where elaborate purification ceremonies take place. Then on the evening before Nyepi is when the festivities commence.
The evening begins with blessings at the family temple and participate in the ritual of chasing away ‘evil forces’ – hitting pots and pans or loud instruments along with a fiery bamboo torch. These ‘demons’ are manifested as the said ogoh-ogoh that are paraded in the streets. The Nyepi Eve parade usually starts at around 19:00 local time.
Any sign of ‘life’ stops island-wide at 06:00 to 06:00 on the day of the Saka New Year. The ‘Four Nyepi Prohibitions’ include no fire, no travel, no activity, and no entertainment. Some look at it as a time to relax and reflect, while others consider it a chance for Mother Nature to ‘reboot’ herself for one out of the 365 days.
Here at Sheraton, we take the traditional holy ‘Day of the Silence’ as an opportunity to reunite with family and friends to recharge the senses. Celebrate the most peaceful moment of the year in Bali, Nyepi Day at Sheraton’s 5-star luxury beachfront resort.
Enjoy the serenity of the island with our special package inclusive of: 1) Daily buffet breakfast for 2 persons at Feast Restaurant, 2) One time buffet dinner at Feast Restaurant, 3) One time buffet lunch at Feast Restaurant, 4) Complimentary one extra bed for children below 12 years old, 5) 50% off food & beverage purchase for children below 12 years old, 6) 15% off food & beverage (exclusing alcoholic beverages), 7) 15% off spa treatment at Shine Spa, 8) Free access to Play@Sheraton kids club, 9) Free drink bottle for children below 12, to use for free refills with chilled juices and hot chocolate, and 10) Plenty of complimentary resort activities on Nyepi Day
Rate starts from Rp4,800,000 nett per room for stay on 6-8 March 2019.
Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort lies in a total area of 5.2 hectares at the heart of the bustling Kuta, aimed to transform the Kuta experience and presenting an all-new contemporary vision of paradise for travelers. The award winning resort features 203 guest rooms and suites ranging from 46 to 265 square meters, each fitted with Sheraton Signature Sleep Experience and features a spacious private balcony with uninterrupted views of the Indian Ocean or the resort’s signature social courtyard.
The resort is adjacent to the luxurious shopping destination of Beachwalk, presenting over 200 retail outlets in an open-air style and designed architecture inspired by the design of Bali’s rice paddy field.
For more information, call +62 361 846 5555 or visit sheratonbalikuta.com.
