Hari Raya Nyepi - Indonesia
When is Hari Raya Nyepi? Hari Raya Nyepi is the Balinese Hindu New Year. It is celebrated on the first new moon in March. It is generally celebrated on the same day as the Indian festival, Ugadi. Traditions of Hari Raya Nyepi Several days before Nyepi, a Hindu Balinese purification ceremony and ritual called Melasti takes place. During Melasti, a parade of villagers carry all the sacred objects from their temple to a nearby ocean or lake shore. There the sacred objects are cleaned and purified with the holy water of the sea or the lake. Celebrations for Nyepi are centred on Bali and take two forms. Firstly according to custom, the arrival of Spring is the time of year when the Lord of Hell sends all the devils to Bali, who must then be cleared out to purify the island before the new year begins. People then run through the streets of villages and towns, with their faces painted, making as much noise as they possibly can. The evil spirits are driven awa...