One of my favourite cultural practices in Bali is Nyepi, a sacred Balinese Hindu tradition that invites us to pause, reflect, and honour the world around us in a way that is truly profound. Nyepi, also known as the Day of Silence, is unlike any other holiday I’ve encountered, and its significance has resonated deeply with me since I first experienced it.
What is Nyepi?
Nyepi is the Balinese New Year and a day of complete silence, fasting, and meditation observed across Bali. The day marks the beginning of the Saka calendar, but it is more than just a celebration of a new year. It is a day of purification, a time for spiritual cleansing and self-reflection. For 24 hours, the entire island comes to a halt—no traffic, no noise, no electricity, and no distractions. The streets are deserted, and even tourists are encouraged to stay indoors and honour the silence.
The importance of Nyepi to Balinese Hindus cannot be overstated. It’s a time to restore balance, both spiritually and environmentally. By reducing activity, Nyepi is also a way to give the earth a day of rest. It's a symbolic reset, encouraging everyone to reflect on their relationship with themselves, their families, their faith, and the natural world. Nyepi brings the entire island into harmony, and that collective stillness has always moved me deeply.
A Conversation with My Daughter on Silence and Remembrance
Recently, I had a conversation with my daughter, Kayla, on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Kayla had been out, and there was a moment of silence to honor and remember the children who suffered and died in residential schools. When she returned home, we talked about it. I shared with her my feelings—that one minute of silence didn’t feel like enough. The pain, loss, and legacy of the residential schools deserved more than just a fleeting moment of reflection.
That got me thinking: What if the world took more than just a minute? What if we could take 24 hours once a year—a full day of remembrance and honouring, similar to Nyepi? What would it be like if everyone, regardless of where they lived, participated in a day dedicated to reflecting on the things that truly matter—our faiths, our families, the struggles of various groups around the world, our relationship with the earth, and the lessons of history?
It feels like a radical yet beautiful idea. A day where the world would pause. No distractions, no busyness, just a collective effort to stop, remember, and honour the people, events, and values that shape our lives and histories. We live in a world that moves at an exhausting pace, rarely giving us time to sit with our thoughts or truly reflect on what’s important. But what if we made the time?
Nyepi: An Invitation to the World
As I reflected on this idea, I thought of Nyepi—how it offers the perfect model for this kind of global reflection and honouring. And so, I’ve begun inviting the people in my life to join me in observing Nyepi, wherever they are in the world, on Saturday, March 29, 2025, from 5:59 AM to Sunday, March 30, 2025, at 6:00 AM Central Indonesia Time. Though Bali will be the epicenter, imagine the possibility of people around the globe participating in their own way—a global moment of silence and reflection.
Nyepi asks us to do more than just be quiet. It asks us to truly reflect on what we hold sacred and to honour it with intention. Whether it’s our faith, the environment, the struggles of marginalized groups, or our families, Nyepi offers a day for deep introspection, honouring what has passed, and setting intentions for the future.
What Would It Take?
So, I ask: What would it take for us to pause for a day of remembrance and honouring? What would it look like for people across the world to consciously disconnect from distractions and simply be with themselves and the things they value? How might we change if we allowed ourselves this time—to remember the injustices of the past, to honour the earth and the people we love, and to reset our intentions for the future?
I believe that days like Nyepi are crucial for our individual and collective growth. They remind us to pause and reflect on what truly matters, something our fast-paced world desperately needs. And I believe we can take this day of silence, this spirit of honouring, and expand it beyond Bali, sharing the practice with people all over the globe.
Join Me in Nyepi
I invite you to consider participating in Nyepi this coming March, wherever you are in the world. Whether you observe it with complete silence or carve out just a few hours of reflection, let’s honour this time together. Reflect on what matters most to you—your loved ones, your faith, the earth, the stories of those who have come before us, and the future we want to create. Take the time to listen, to honour, and to reflect on the life you are creating.
Nyepi offers us the perfect opportunity to pause and to remember. And maybe, just maybe, the world needs more days like this—days where we stop everything, honour our shared humanity, and recommit to living lives of intention, care, and purpose.
As a Balinese who has lived abroad for several years, I find that Nyepi is a truly unique experience that I haven’t encountered elsewhere. Derived from the Balinese word "sepi," meaning silent, on this day, you can hear the birds singing, feel the wind blowing, and gaze at the stunning Milky Way at night—simple wonders that we often overlook. Nyepi always creates unforgettable moments for me, even as I celebrate it every year. I feel deeply grateful for these beautiful moments.