The Hindu teaching also requires one to fast for those 24 hours and limit all verbal communication, which describes Nyepi or the Silent Day very well. The spiritual concept of the role of Nyepi is a fresh start entering a new chapter where meditation and self-reflection is required for a person's clarity starting the beginning of a new year.

This year, Nyepi will fall on the March 9, 2016, and as all years ever before, that translates into having the entire island to hit the pause button altogether, which we think is completely powerful, beautiful and at some level even necessary. Obviously being located on this island, Ngurah Rai International Airport is also subject to the Nyepi rules, hence it is closed for 24 hours, making it the only international airport with an annual closing date.

While the spiritual rituals are only for the Hindus, there are still the main rules that apply to everyone on the island. Ground rules are no noise, no visible lights from inside your home, no wandering on the streets, no leaving your hotel if you happen to be staying at one.

The pecalang (the local banjar's security team) are out on patrol to make sure that everyone follows the rules. Of course, there are exceptions for emergencies such as for women who are about to give birth or when someone has to be ran to the Emergency Room, but for the rest everyone is subject to the house arrest.

The day before Nyepi is called Ngerupuk. The main purpose of Ngerupuk is to drive away the evil. It consists of several different rituals which includes spreading rice, smoking the house and yards, lighting up firecrackers around the house as well as both the front and backyard, and make banging noises. All those rituals are held in effort to scare away the demons.

And after these rituals are performed, the most high profile part of the Nyepi preparations would take place and take up the attention from everyone on the island! Yes, we are talking about the Ogoh-Ogoh Parade!

Ogoh-ogoh are statues that are normally formed in shape of mythological beings; most of them being scary demons of many kinds and sorts. The Ogoh-Ogoh parade symbolizes the act of getting the demons out of the neighborhoods and lives. By the end of the parade, the ogoh-ogoh will be burned, also symbolizing that the demons are gone. And that the good has once again defeated the evil demons in life.

The Ogoh-Ogoh parade can be spotted pretty much on the main roads all over the island. Of course it would be different in terms of the size of the parade as well as the sizes of the statues themselves. However, it is safe to say the more high profile the area, the bigger the parade and the statues are.

Denpasar's biggest annual parade and competition starts at the iconic Puputan Badung Park in the old part of town, while one of Kuta's most popular route is the one starting around the main street of Seminyak. Sanur's big intersection of Hang Tuah street and the By Pass Ngurah Rai is also one of the most visited spots to catch a sight of this scary yet fascinating artistic parade.

At last, Happy Nyepi, everyone!