Indonesia, known as a country with a high level of spirituality worldwide, is renowned for its collective spirituality. This is evident in the religious practices practiced by the community, including dhikr (remembrance of the Creator), prayer, and other rituals. Collective spirituality is also evident in the deeply rooted spirit of mutual cooperation (gotong royong) within Indonesian society. This is supported by religious rituals that require adherents to engage with others in worship, ensuring the smooth functioning of collective spirituality. The smooth functioning of mutual cooperation in worship for hundreds of years is due to the highly sociable nature of the community, despite the presence of multiple religions within a single region. There are six official religions in Indonesia: Islam, Christianity, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. One of the earliest religions to have formed and shaped Indonesian culture is Hinduism, centered on the island of Bali.
One of Bali’s collective spiritual rituals is Nyepi, which is practiced by Hindus. This ritual requires many people to return to Sang Hyang Widi (God) to purify themselves. There is no light, no sound, no food, no drink, except thoughts focused solely on the creator of all nature. The ritual’s philosophy is the purification of the human soul and nature. This activity requires the cooperation of the entire Balinese community, as all activities must cease to respect the Hindus who worship for a full day. Interestingly, people of other religions also do not interrupt the Nyepi worship and pause for a moment, as if they themselves are immersed in this purification. This is very interesting to study because the reflection of religious differences in Bali can be a unique beauty, like art. One possible explanation is how the Nyepi Festival reflects collective spirituality and impacts social harmony in Bali.
The Nyepi ritual consists of a series of events, starting with Melasti, Tawur Kesanga, Nyepi, and Ngembak Geni. Melasti requires Hindus to go to a water source such as a beach or river, where they bring sacred objects from a temple to be purified. This is followed by the excitement of Tawur Kesanga, which involves parading Ogoh-Ogoh, giant statues symbolizing evil. These Ogoh-Ogoh are paraded and then burned to dissolve human sin and eliminate it from the face of the earth. The culmination is Nyepi, a fasting from worldly pleasures. These include prohibitions on lighting fires, working, leaving the house, and engaging in leisure activities. The procession concludes with Ngembak Geni, a procession of mutual forgiveness between relatives, restoring physical and spiritual purity. The sequence of events is so beautiful that people outside Bali might consider it a colossal drama. The values gleaned from this drama are the purity of the human body and psychology, as well as rebalancing the body and the surrounding environment to become more sensitive to God’s gifts. This beauty is what makes followers of other religions perceive the Nyepi ceremony not as a demand, but as a work of art that can be followed. Most of them will follow suit, not disturbing Hindus during Nyepi, and instead perpetuate it. The regularity of Nyepi can truly captivate anyone who understands the meaning of self-purification, which purifies not only the body but also the soul and the surrounding environment.
According to statistics, religions other than Hinduism in Bali account for up to 25% of the population, with Islam, Christianity, and Catholicism the largest, and Confucianism a smaller percentage. Based on the third principle of the Indonesian state, “Indonesian Unity,” this creates a high level of religious tolerance in Indonesia, especially in Bali. This study is even more interesting because Hinduism is not the majority religion in Indonesia. This process can also run smoothly thanks to the support of Balinese regional institutions. The Parisada Hindu Dharma Indonesia (PHDI) plays a key role in the implementation of Nyepi. All events must be approved by this institution. The Traditional Village Council (MDA) issues policies regarding the Ogoh-ogoh procession during the Tawur Kesanga night, including the time and route, to maintain public order. The Forum for Interfaith Harmony (FKUB) plays a crucial role in maintaining order among religious communities, ensuring that Nyepi is free from threats of violence from irresponsible individuals. Harmony between religious communities creates solidarity, and the implementation of the Ogoh-ogoh ritual, in Balinese, introduces itself as a sacred area to other religious communities.
Messages from non-Hindu believers suggest that Nyepi is a custom anyone can practice to isolate themselves from the evils of the world. Naturally, our daily busyness can distract us from our primary goal of reconnecting with the Creator. This creates a sense of stillness, fostering a natural desire for creation to return to the Creator. In an internet-dominated era, the brain often decays more rapidly with the overflow of information. Nyepi serves as a digital detox, allowing us to disconnect from the connection and focus on the moment. The discipline of the Nyepi ritual requires that it be performed simultaneously by all Balinese people. This fosters a strong sense of collective unity and discipline, not just tolerance. The participation of all segments of society, both residents and tourists, requires respect for the host’s traditions. The universal message conveyed through Nyepi from Bali is to always refocus on God’s path through a moment of silence. Self-reflection can arise from the absence of worldly desires and busyness. This signifies that emptiness is content, and content is emptiness. Strong tolerance is also created across various social structures, creating a sense of harmony. Through Nyepi, nature is given a 24-hour break from human noise. The air is purer, pollution is minimized, reminding humans that nature’s breath is constantly being labored by them. Nature ultimately grants forgiveness to those who eradicate selfishness and provides a momentary respite from this introspection.
This path of truth is not exclusive to Hindus; others can emulate it by taking a break from worldly activities, allowing their minds to adjust to their discipline. Thorough preparation from the first day to purify temple heirlooms, the lively Ogoh-Ogoh procession, and the harmony of Nyepi cannot be accomplished alone, but requires the cooperation of the entire community. This discipline must be collective; if not achieved, the essence of the ritual will be wasted. A single noise spreads quickly and disrupts the ritual atmosphere, destroying the silence. This proves that introspection is achieved through silence and collective harmony, ensuring God’s message is not wasted, and the forgiveness of nature can be felt. From a socio-cultural perspective, Nyepi can create a space for religious tolerance in Indonesia, especially in Bali. While people outside Bali can certainly watch the Ogoh-Ogoh procession through social media, the ultimate solemnity is undoubtedly felt in Bali. The enthusiasm of all members of society to make Nyepi a success is not rewarded with money, but with self-awareness toward the Creator.
By: Fahriena Aulia Rahmad
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