Tales from a new life in Bali

Today is Siwaratri or night of Shiva (spelled Siwa in the Balinese way) – a day of meditation and contemplation where apparently all your sins can be wiped clean. Technically you’re supposed to stay up all night reading religious books and meditating and not sleep until the following evening. If you’re really hardcore you can also choose to fast and not speak, however many people sleep eat and talk as normal and just spend the evening praying, meditating and being a little more mindful than usual.

Made tells me that in recent years teenagers have used the not sleeping part of this day as an excuse to stay up partying all night and if you drive around in the evening you can see many groups of young people on the beach and other meeting places drinking and partying until the next morning – not quite what the day is intended for, but typical of teenagers worldwide I guess!

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Ceremonies by Rachel