Experience Nyepi Eve Ogoh-Ogoh Parade and Balinese Silence Day in Bali Indonesia

My travelmates and I happened to travel during Nyepi—and only found out after booking our flights. That meant lots of research before the trip. Honestly, we weren’t nervous at all, just excited. In Singapore, life is always busy; we rarely get a day where we truly put our phones away or live without constant work or entertainment. It’s usually either work or play. But Nyepi is neither—it’s the art of doing nothing, a whole day of silence observed once a year across Bali.

The next Nyepi will be on 19 March 2026 if you’re planning to experience it yourself. Just a heads-up: everything shuts down, including restaurants and even the airport, so food options are limited. You'll also most likely experience total darkness in the night.

But the beauty of Nyepi isn’t just in the stillness—it’s also in the celebrations that happen just a day before.

We were lucky to join the locals for the Ogoh-Ogoh parade, where enormous handcrafted sculptures, made from mainly paper and bamboo, are carried through the streets to reach its final destination (the Ogoh ogoh parade).

Each neighbourhood creates its own statue, and the workmanship is incredible—so sturdy that even when teams lift and dance with it, nothing falls apart. Watch Video here.

At night, these statues come alive in full performances, but you’ll need local knowledge to find where they happen (we joined the non-touristy ones).

The winning statue is usually displayed like an exhibition, but after Silence Day, all the Ogoh-Ogohs are destroyed and burnt—a little heartbreaking, but that’s part of the tradition.

Also, Bonus for you - What awaits you on Nyepi’s vibrant eve in Bali:

Ogoh-Ogoh Procession Prep – Towering demon effigies, intricately crafted from bamboo, wood, papier-mâché, and often modern materials like styrofoam, are brought to life with vivid paint, hair, and decorations. These effigies symbolize negative forces and are carefully shifted to their designated areas, ready for the grand parade.

Household Prayers – Every home prepares offerings and conducts rituals, seeking blessings and protection for the year ahead.

Festival Fever – The streets fill with energy and excitement as communities make the final touches to their Ogoh-Ogoh, preparing for an electrifying night filled with performance and spectacle.

Cheers & Chants – High-energy music, lively dances, and enthusiastic crowds take over the night, sending off negativity before Nyepi’s day of silence.

On Nyepi Day: 

A Cultural Experience – Bali’s unique way of balancing chaos and calm, before the island embraces a full day of peace and silence. (Note: Airports will be closed, food options outside will be unavailable—be prepared to dine on what you have, as some hotels may not serve meals.)

The hotel I stayed at offered only minimal food and drink options. Read Wana Shanti Villa Ubud Hotel Review here.

Post-Nyepi: 

The Burning Ritual – To complete the cleansing, many Ogoh-Ogoh are set ablaze after the parade, symbolizing the destruction of evil spirits and the purification of the island.

Embark on this once-in-a-lifetime journey and immerse yourself in adventure, culture, and the rich traditions of Bali.

I feel incredibly fortunate to have witnessed something so rare and extraordinary. If you ever have the chance, make sure you don’t miss it.

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