Nyepi — the Balinese Hindu New Year according to the Saka calendar — is one of the most remarkable 24-hour experiences in the world. From sunrise to sunrise (6 a.m. to 6 a.m.), the entire island of Bali observes a day of total silence, darkness, and stillness. All roads are closed to traffic, Ngurah Rai International Airport ceases operations, businesses close, and lights are extinguished. Even tourists in their hotels are asked to stay inside with curtains drawn after dark. The day is observed through the Catur Brata Penyepian: fasting (amati lelanguan), no fire or light (amati gni), no travel (amati lelungan), and no work (amati karya). The intention is for the island — the cosmos itself — to appear uninhabited, and thus invisible to malevolent spirits who come looking for life. The night before Nyepi is Pengerupukan, when enormous ogoh-ogoh (monster puppets up to 5 metres tall) are paraded through every banjar to noisy music and flaming torches, then burned or symbolically destroyed at crossroads to drive out the spirits. The contrast between the explosive energy of Pengerupukan night and the absolute silence of Nyepi dawn is one of Bali's most extraordinary experiences.