'Nahdliyin always respect Nyepi Holiday'

Bali, NU Online
The Nahdlatul Ulama Regional Board (PWNU) of Bali said that NU followers (Nahdliyin) in the Paradise Island had always respected their fellow citizens in commemorating the Nyepi holiday.<>

"We continue to consistently tolerate (the day of silence). However the Nyepi celebration this time, certainly was not as sensational as last year's one," Chairman of the Bali's PWNU Mulyono Setiawan told NU Online, here on Monday (11/3).

According to him, the commemoration of the Saka New Year 1935 in 2012, made religious figures busy because it fell on Friday. The local administration and Islamic organizations, including NU, should work to prevent possible interreligious conflicts.

"Because it coincided with Friday prayers of Muslims, then we urge Muslims not to interfere with the celebration of Nyepi, such as not using the speakerphone. But now we are not too worried about it," he said.

Meanwhile, government and private institutions, as well as schools, would be closed to observe Nyepi, the Hindu Day of Silence, and the Caka New Year 1935 from March 11 through March 13.

“The Day of Silence, which will fall on March 12, is officially a national holiday, but the provincial administration has enacted two additional, optional holidays on March 11 and March 13 to allow Balinese Hindus to perform various rituals before and after Nyepi,” explained I Ketut Teneng, the provincial administration’s spokesperson, as quoted by Antara news agency.

On March 11, Balinese people will carry out a series of rituals, including Tawur Agung Kesanga and Pengrupukan, while on March 13 Hindus will perform Ngembak Geni, in which fires are lit for the start of the new year.

Teneng elaborated that the three-day holiday was included in the 21 local holidays declared by the Bali government.

Bali’s 21 days of local holiday are in addition to the 14 national holidays, and are to commemorate religious holidays such as Galungan and Kuningan, Saraswati and Pagerwesi, as well as Nyepi.

“The local holidays are meant to allow Balinese people to sincerely perform religious ceremonies and rituals during the major days,” Teneng added.

Editor: Sudarto Murtaufiq