Bali is an island of contrasts. One day, total silence. The next day, a kissing festival.
If you are visiting Bali in March for Nyepi, you are prepared for the quiet. You know about the empty streets and the starlight. But very few travelers know what happens the moment the silence ends.
On the day after Nyepi, known as Ngembak Geni, the island wakes up with a roar. And in the village of Sesetan (just a short drive north of Nusa Dua), this awakening takes a unique, boisterous form known as Omed-Omedan.
What is Omed-Omedan?
Literally translating to “Pull and Pull,” this is a tradition exclusive to the Banjar Kaja community in Sesetan. It has been practiced for centuries, allegedly starting to satisfy a king who needed entertainment to heal from an illness.
The ritual is simple, chaotic, and full of joy: The village youth are separated into two groups—men and women. At the signal of the Gamelan drums, they rush toward each other in the center of the street. The front pair is pushed together by their friends until they embrace and share a quick kiss, all while the older villagers douse them with buckets of cold water.
It is slippery, loud, and incredibly fun.
Why It Matters
To the outsider, it looks like a matchmaking festival. But to the locals, it is a ceremony of harmony and warding off bad luck. It represents the return of social connection. For 24 hours during Nyepi, the Balinese are isolated in meditation. Omed-Omedan breaks that isolation with the most human act possible: physical connection and laughter.
It is a celebration of fertility, youth, and the washing away of bad energy (represented by the water) to start the new year fresh.
The Beauty of Balance
This is the secret sauce of Bali in March. Nowhere else on earth can you experience such extreme duality in 48 hours.
- March 19 (Nyepi): The deepest silence you will ever know. A day for the soul.
- March 20 (Ngembak Geni): The loudest laughter you will ever hear. A day for the community.
You don’t have to go to Sesetan and get soaked to appreciate it (though brave travelers are welcome to watch!). Just knowing it exists adds a flavor to your holiday. It reminds you that you are on an island that celebrates every spectrum of life—from the sacred quiet to the chaotic joy.
Experience the energy of the New Year. Book Your March Getaway
