Nyepi comes from the word lonely (silent, silent).

Nyepi Day is actually a Hindu New Year celebration

based on the caka calendar, which began in 78 AD. Unlike Christian New Year celebrations, the Saka
New Year in Bali begins with seclusion. No activity as usual. All activities were canceled, including
public services, such as the closing of the International Airport, but not hospitals.

The main purpose of Nyepi Day is to pray before God Almighty, to purify Bhuana Alit (human
nature / microcosmos) and Bhuana Agung / macrocosmos (universe). Before Nyepi Day, there are
several series of ceremonies performed by Hindus, especially in Bali.

Melasti, Tawur (Pecupdate), and Pengrupukan

Three or two days before Nyepi, Hindus perform purification by performing a Melasti ceremony or
also known as Melis / Mekiyis. On that day, all praying facilities in the temple (holy place) are
paraded to the beach or lake, because the sea or lake is a source of holy water (tirta amerta) and can
purify all leteh (dirty) in humans and nature.

The day before Nyepi, namely at "tilem sasih kesanga" (the 9th dead month), Hindus carry out the
Buta Yadnya ceremony at all levels of society, starting from each family, banjar, village, district, and
so on, by taking the wrong one of the types of caru (a kind of offering) according to his ability. The
blind Yadnya are named Pañca Sata (small), Pañca Sanak (medium), and Tawur Agung (large). Tawur
or pecupdate itself is a purification / pemarisuda of Buta Kala, and all leteh (defilement) are
expected to disappear altogether. Caru which is carried out in each house consists of 9 tanding /
package of foreign rice (five) colors and their side dishes, such as brumbun chicken (colorful)
accompanied by tetabuhan arak / tuak. This Buta Yadnya was addressed to the Blind Raja, Buta Kala
and Batara Kala, by begging them not to disturb the people.

Mecaru is followed by a pengerupukan ceremony, which is spreading the tawur rice, destroying the
house and the entire yard, spraying the house and yard with gunpowder, and hitting any object
(usually kentongan) until it makes a loud noise. This stage is carried out to expel Blind Kala from the
environment of the house, yard, and the surrounding environment. Especially in Bali, pengrupukan is
usually enlivened by ogoh-ogoh parades, which are the manifestation of Buta Kala that is paraded
around the environment, and then burned. The goal is the same, namely to expel Buta Kala from the
surrounding environment.