Last updated on January 1, 2019
To define and celebrate their New Year. The same thing also occurs in Bali, however the Balinese commence this occasion with a 24 hour period of silence. This is called Nyepi, which falls on the day following the dark moon of the spring equinox. It is a day to make and keep the balance of nature.
Melasti or Melis ceremony is essentially a ritual cleansing rite where all the effigies of the Gods (Pratima) from all the village temples are taken to the river or sea in long and colourful parades to be purified by the waters three days prior the Nyepi day.
Picture by Kalisary, Saraswati Paper, Denpasar, Bali.