JAKARTA, INDONESIA, April 14, 2002: Bali’s normally solemn Day of Silence, a Hindu religious day of introspection, turned rowdy at the weekend when devotees went on a rampage in two villages. Brawls broke out during processions of the giant Ogoh-Ogoh puppets late on Friday, the eve of the Nyepi festival, leaving at least four people injured, including one with severe burns. The ghoulish effigies, up to 5 meters high and 2 meters wide, are paraded on the night before the Nyepi to banish evil spirits. Denpasar Police Detective chief Budi Wasono said the melees were a result of misunderstanding. Nyepi is observed throughout Bali for 24 hours, during which it is forbidden to light lamps or fires, work, travel or indulge in physical, social or business activities.
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