karl adolf amrhein57, was found on a main road Sukawati Village March 19 at 7 am. When he was brought for questioning he initially pretended to be mute. An American tourist was detained by local security in Bali on Thursday morning after he was found wandering on the main road during Nyepi, the island’s annual day of silence, in which all outdoor activities are banned for a full 24 hours. Carl Adolf Amrhein, 57, was seen on the main road in Sukawati village at about 7 a.m. on March 19, during which the entire island is required to strictly monitor residents and visitors to stay indoors. Sukawati Police officials told local media that they had rescued a foreign national from the United States who was violating Nyepi regulations. They were later taken to a nearby villa and warned not to commit further violations.
What happened
When Amarhain was brought to the police station, officials said he initially pretended to be mute and repeatedly asked to be released. He eventually spoke to authorities and explained that he was looking for new accommodation after being asked to leave his hotel in Ubud. “He admitted that he was forced to leave his hotel in Ubud because his period of stay had expired,” a local police chief told reporters. He was later taken to a nearby villa where he was allowed to remain for the remainder of the ritual. This is not the first time that a foreign tourist has faced difficulties during Nyepi. In 2020, another American was chained by local authorities in Kuta after going for a run during the ritual. The man told locals that he “just wanted to go for a walk” and refused to return to his villa when asked.
What is Nyepi and what is it needed for?
Nyepi, which directly translates to “Keep quiet” One of Bali’s most important spiritual rituals is rooted in Balinese Hinduism, which is followed by about 87 percent of the island’s population. It marks the Balinese New Year according to the Saka calendar and usually falls between March and April according to the Gregorian calendar. This year, the ritual lasted from 6 am on March 19 to 6 am on March 20. The day is dedicated to contemplation, meditation and self-purification, a collective and individual reckoning with the past year, in which the island, according to tradition, enters the New Year with a clean slate. Nyepi occurs on the day after the dark moon of the spring equinox and falls on the third day of a sacred cycle lasting approximately six days, with the day of silence being the centerpiece. The day is governed by four strict principles: Amati Jini, the prohibition of fire, light and electricity; Amati Karya, prohibition of all work and occupation; Amati Lelungnan, travel ban; and Amati Lelanguan, prohibiting noisy celebrations or entertainment. These rules apply to everyone on the island without exception, residents, tourists and foreign nationals alike. During the 24-hour period, all businesses and restaurants are closed, roads are empty except for emergency vehicles, and I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar has suspended all incoming and outgoing flights. Local guards, known as Pekalang, are deployed throughout the island to enforce the rules. Hospitals will remain open for emergencies.
Local Peklang volunteers patrol Bali during Nyepi, enforcing peace, enforcing travel restrictions, and keeping residents and tourists safe/(AntraNews)
Tourists staying in hotels and villas are required to stay at their property for the entire period. Hotels generally inform guests of the rules in advance, some offering quieter dining options or limited resort amenities, and others requiring guests to stay in their rooms entirely with food delivered. Visitors renting private villas are advised to ensure they have enough food and water for a full 24 hours before starting Nyepi.According to Balinese Hindu belief, silence is also thought to serve a protective function: the island’s absolute stillness is said to deceive evil spirits into believing it is deserted, and protects its inhabitants from harm as they enter the New Year.
Men carry a giant effigy called “ogo-ogo”, which represents evil spirits that need to be cleansed, during a parade on the evening of “Napi” or Silent Day, which marks the Balinese Hindu new year, in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Firdiya Lisnavati)
Nyepi falls on the third day of the sacred cycle lasting approximately six days. The evening before, known as Ogoh-Ogoh, parades are held throughout the island in which young people carry large demon statues through the streets, in a ritual intended to rid the island of negative energy before the silence begins.