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Denpasar. The resort island of Bali effectively closed down for 24 hours starting at 6 a.m. on Tuesday to mark the Hindu holiday of Nyepi.

During the Day of Silence, Balinese Hindus as well as domestic and international guests residing on the island are prohibited from leaving their homes, turning on the electricity and from working or any form of entertainment.

The only exception, other than foreign tourists holed up in hotels, is for pecalang — community security personnel — in charge of safeguarding the region during the holiday.

“Sick people who need to be taken to hospital must acquire approval and escort from the pecalang,” said Putu Suardika, head of the province’s Public Relations and Protocol Bureau.

When Nyepi began, all entrances to Bali, including the Ngurah Rai International Airport and seaports Gilimanuk in Jembrana, Padangbai in Karangasem, Benoa in Denpasar and Celukan Bawang in Buleleng, were closed for 24 hours and all television and radio stations are prohibited from broadcasting.

Even tourism activities stopped. In Kuta, no tourists were seen bathing, swimming or sunbathing at the beach. All restaurants, cafes, bars and art shops were closed.

“We've appealed to the Bali tourism sector to convey the message of Nyepi to their guests,” said Ketut Sudira, the traditional village head of Kuta.

The situation is slightly different in hotels, where tourists as well as local residents filled rooms. Some locals chose to stay at hotels to combat the boredom of staying at home during Nyepi. Most stayed from Monday night until today.

During Nyepi, guests are advised not to leave hotel premises. They are allowed to use minimum lighting and watch television or listen to music at low volume. “We can understand this and we try to enjoy it,” said Michael Lea Chulov, an Australian tourist staying in Kuta.

Denpasar Police Chief Sr. Comr. Gede Alit Widana said 1,000 officers were deployed to secure ceremonial processions for Nyepi, such as the ogoh-ogoh parade during Pengerupukan on Monday night.

So far, he said, the police had briefly detained four people who were caught outside during Nyepi. “But we only reprimanded them for going out and warned them to not do it again.”

World Day of Silence activist Gusti Ayu Fransiska Kusumadewi said that Nyepi prevented 20,000 tons of carbon emissions from being released, excluding emissions released by various modes of transportation, such as motorcycles, cars and airplanes.

Agung Mastika, spokesman for PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara in Bali, said Nyepi saves up to 450 megawatts of electricity, worth about Rp 5.5 billion ($599,500).

“During Nyepi, electricity consumption [in the area] is only about 100 megawatts, which is used by hotels, hospitals, correctional institutions and so forth,” Mastika said.

The federal government on Tuesday announced sentence reductions for 344 Hindu inmates across the country to mark the holiday.

“All prisoners who have served a year of their sentence are eligible for the cuts, except for those convicted of terrorism, graft, illegal logging and drug-related crimes,” said Chandran Lestyono, a spokesman for the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights.

Sentence cuts are traditionally given to mark Independence Day and on major religious holidays — Christmas for Christians, Idul Fitri for Muslims, Nyepi for Hindus and Wesak for Buddhists.