The Balinese Hindus use two kinds of calendar systems, the Saka calendar system and the 210-day Pawukon system. The Saka calendar is a lunar system and each of the 12 lunar months ends on a new month. The calendar begins the day after the new moon that ends the ninth lunar month. This always coincides with the Gregorian March. The Balinese Hindus 'celebrate' the coming of the new year of saka calendar in silence, which is called 'Nyepi Day'. The Saka year numbering system is 78 years behind the Gregorian year. The Saka calendar came from India.

Nyepi Day is the culmination of several days that follow this event. This year, Nyepi Day occurs on 16 March 2010. On 13 March 2010, the Balinese Hindus gathered all sacred apparatus that symbolize the supremacy of God in the world in the temple village. The following day, either on 14 or 15 March 2010, is the melasti day. All effigies of the gods from all the village temples have been taken to the river in long and colorful ceremonies. There they have been bathed by the god Baruna before being taken back to residence in their shrines of origin. The ceremony is a general purification of the village and its deities. Everyone also purifies himself. On the day after melasti, Pengerupukan, offering is given. It is meant to shed the black world and any disturbing factors away. All villages also hold a large exorcist ceremony at the main village crossroad, the meeting place of the demons. All the demons of Bali world were let loose on the road in a carnival of fantastic monsters, the 'Ogoh-ogoh'. The "Ogoh-ogoh' is the manifestation of anything that disturbs human live. It could be a person, an object or anything.

As a religious event of Balinese Hindus, Nyepi is a symbolical replay of these philosophical principles. The world is 'clean' in the beginning of the year. The Balinese Hindus do not celebrate the new year with lavish party, instead they celebrate the coming of the new year with meditation. No activities are allowed to take place. These mandatory religious prohibitions include no pleasure (amati lelangon), no traffic (amati lelungan), no fire (amati geni) and no work (amati karya). These prohibitions aim at controlling oneself and submission to God. Everybody has to stay in the individual houses. No lights in the house, no sounds of radio and no works, just keep silence. It is totally silence.

The anti-climax of the meditation is on the following day, which is called Ngembak Geni, where the people are happy and bless their success of controlling themselves. It is also the day of get-togetherness and family gathering. Should you be in Bali or first arrive in Bali on the occasion of Nyepi Day, on the Gregorian calendar, this year it occurs on 16 March 2010.