Bali airport to close during Hindu celebration next week
JAKARTA — To celebrate Nyepi, or “Day of Silence,” Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport will close for 24 hours, an Indonesian official said on Thursday (March 23).
Passengers wait in the international terminal at Ngurah Rai Airport on the Indonesian resort island of Bali. Photo: Antara Foto/Reuters
JAKARTA — To celebrate Nyepi, or “Day of Silence,” Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport will close for 24 hours, an Indonesian official said on Thursday (March 23).
Bali Transportation Agency head Sudarsana said the Bali airport will be closed on March 28, from 6 am until 6 am. the next day.
He also added that all bus stations and seaports across the island will suspend operations during the Nyepi celebration, which commemorates the Balinese Hindu New Year and is a public holiday for all Indonesians.
“Basically, we are ready. We have held meetings with officials and business leaders in each district,” Mr Sudarsana said in Denpasar, as reported by state news agency Antara.
Nyepi coincides with the new moon of the spring equinox each year.
During the Day of Silence, Bali’s Hindu residents typically stay indoors for a day of reflection.
In accordance with Balinese customs, traditional security personnel – known as pecalang – will patrol the province to ensure no outdoor activities occur during the holy day.
On the eve of Nyepi, Hindu Balinese will hold what is known as the Ngrupuk parade, where giant effigies of demons and other Hindu symbols of evil will be burned. THE JAKARTA GLOBE
Stay in the know. Anytime. Anywhere.
Subscribe to get daily news updates, insights and must reads delivered straight to your inbox.
By clicking subscribe, I agree for my personal data to be used to send me TODAY newsletters, promotional offers and for research and analysis.
