American tourists who intentionally went out on Bali’s holy day were arrested and warned by security forces.
Karl Adolf Amrhein, a 57-year-old American tourist, was detained by security forces in Bali on the morning of March 19 after being discovered walking on the main road in Sukawati village at 7:00 a.m., the time of “Silent Day” (Nyepi). According to authorities, this person pretended to be mute when being taken to the police station, then repeatedly asked to be released.
After working with officials, the man declared that he was looking for a new place to live after being “forced to leave” his previous hotel in Ubud due to his stay expiring. Local police escorted the tourists to a nearby villa to stay and issued warnings if there were further violations.
Karl Adolf Amrhein when captured. Image: News Au
Nyepi is an important spiritual and cultural holiday for contemplation, meditation and spiritual purification. This holiday originates from Hinduism, which accounts for about 87% of the island’s population.
Bali officials also recommend that tourists understand the strictness of this holiday. For 24 hours on one day in March every year, the entire streets of Bali will stop working to celebrate Nyepi.
Regulations include bans on the use of lighting, music, vehicles and transportation. The regulations apply to everyone on the island, regardless of religion or nationality. All businesses and public services are closed, except for emergency services. Aviation operations were also completely suspended.
Residents and tourists must stay in their homes or places of residence. Hotels will advise guests on permitted activities; Some offer quiet buffets and limited access to resort facilities. Some other accommodation facilities require guests not to leave their rooms at all and have food delivered to them.
In 2020, an American tourist was detained by authorities in Kuta after jogging on Nyepi day. This person then said he “just wanted to go jogging” and refused to return to the villa when informed.