2027 Nyepi (Day of Silence)

Nyepi, the Balinese Hindu 'Day of Silence', marks the new year of the Saka calendar and falls on the day after the new moon in March, when the whole island of Bali shuts down for 24 hours from 6 a.m. Observers keep four restraints — no fire or light, no work, no travel and no entertainment — and pecalang village guards patrol to enforce them; the airport closes, streets are empty, lights stay off and mobile internet is switched off, so even tourists must stay inside their hotels. On the eve, Pengrupukan, villages parade huge ogoh-ogoh demon effigies through the streets before burning them to drive away evil spirits. The day after, Ngembak Geni, families visit one another and ask forgiveness. Nyepi is a national public holiday across Indonesia, and as the date changes each year, visitors should check it before booking Bali trips; hotels stay open but services are limited. This countdown ticks to midnight Central Indonesia Time (WITA) in Bali on Nyepi.