Paul Grainn

A scenic landscape with trees and buildings.

Motorcycles drive through a street with a mountain view.

Men are performing a fire-breathing ritual.

Nyepi: Bali’s New Year's Day of Complete Silence On Nyepi day, which is New Year’s day in the Balinese Saka Calendar, the island of Bali turns off all lights and sounds, stops all traffic, deserts all worldly activities, and meditates, while complete silence and serenity reigns over the entire island. On the eve of Nyepi, celebrations are held with large papier-mache giants, called Ogoh-Ogoh, paraded on the beach accompanied by loud gamelan music. These are then torched and, it is believed, that with the conflagration, any evil spirits that have brought disease and

People in white attire conduct a religious ceremony.

Mountains loom over a lush, green landscape.

A person looks out of a window at a mountain.

A bamboo bridge leads to a lush, green path.