American tourist detained after being caught violating Bali’s most sacred rule on ‘Day of Silence’

Karl Adolf Amrhein, 57, was found on a main road in Sukawati village at 7 a.m. on 19 March. He initially pretended to be mute when brought in for questioning.

An American tourist was detained by local security in Bali on Thursday morning after being found walking along a main road during Nyepi, the island's annual Day of Silence, in which all outdoor activity is prohibited for a full 24 hours. Karl Adolf Amrhein, 57, was spotted on the main road in Sukawati village at around 7 a.m. on 19 March, during which time the entire island is under strict observance requiring residents and visitors alike to remain indoors. Officers from Sukawati Police told local media they had secured a foreign national from the United States found violating Nyepi regulations. He was later escorted to a nearby villa and warned against further breaches.

What happened

When Amrhein was brought to the police station, officers said he initially pretended to be mute and repeatedly asked to be released. He eventually communicated with authorities, explaining that he had been searching for new accommodation after being asked to leave his hotel in Ubud. "He admitted he was forced to leave his hotel in Ubud because his stay had expired," a local police chief told reporters. He was subsequently escorted to a nearby villa where he was permitted to stay for the remainder of the observance.



It is not the first time a foreign tourist has run into difficulties during Nyepi. In 2020, another American was chained by local authorities in Kuta after going for a run during the observance. The man told locals he "just wanted to go for a jog" and refused to return to his villa when asked.

What Nyepi is, and what it requires

Nyepi, which translates directly as "to stay silent," is one of Bali's most significant spiritual observances, rooted in Balinese Hinduism, which is practised by approximately 87 per cent of the island's population. It marks the Balinese New Year according to the Saka calendar and typically falls between March and April on the Gregorian calendar. This year, the observance ran from 6 a.m. on 19 March until 6 a.m. on 20 March. The day is dedicated to reflection, meditation, and self-purification, a collective and individual reckoning with the past year, in which the island enters the new year with, as tradition holds, 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, of which the Day of Silence is the centrepiece.


The day is governed by four strict principles: Amati Geni, prohibiting fire, light, and electricity; Amati Karya, prohibiting all work and business; Amati Lelunganan, prohibiting travel; and Amati Lelanguan, prohibiting noisy festivities 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 suspends all flights, incoming and outgoing. Local guards known as Pecalang are stationed across the island to enforce the rules. Hospitals remain open for emergencies.

Tourists staying in hotels and villas are required to remain on their property for the full duration. Hotels typically brief guests on the regulations in advance, with some offering quiet dining options or limited resort facilities, and others requiring guests to stay in their rooms entirely, with food delivered. Visitors renting private villas are advised to ensure they have sufficient food and water for the full 24 hours before Nyepi begins.

According to Balinese tradition, the silence is also understood, within Balinese Hindu belief, to serve a protective function: the complete stillness of the island is said to deceive evil spirits into believing it is deserted, shielding its residents from harm as they cross into the new year.

Nyepi falls on the third day of a sacred cycle lasting approximately six days. The evening before, known as Ogoh-Ogoh, sees parades held across the island in which young people carry large demon statues through the streets, in a ritual intended to cleanse the island of negative energy before the silence begins.