Pecalang (traditional Balinese security force) is responsible for securing the traditional ceremony or events which are held in Bali. From directing the traffic on the road near the venue of a religious ceremony in order to avoid the traffic jam to patrolling the streets in Silence Day (Nyepi day) are responsibilities of them. The problem is Silence Day oblige people not to go outside home. However, Pecalang have to go outside to do their responsibility. This is such of dilemma.

Silence day is a day when people who stayed in Bali are forbidden doing activities based on Catur Brata Panyepian. This regulation consists of four things that must be obeyed. Those are:

• Amati Geni means people are forbidden to do activities related with fire including switch on the lamp on the night, cooking, etc.
• Amati Karya means people are prohibited to do any activity.
• Amati Lelungan means people are prohibited to go outside their house compound.
• Amati Lelanguan means people are forbidden to enjoy any kind of entertainment.

When people are forbidden to go outside home and to do any activity, pecalang is allowed to do that. For they have to make sure that Catur Brata Panyepian is practiced by all of people. They patrol on the streets inside the territory of Banjar (hamlet) which the pecalang is assigned. And when there is any violation of Catur Brata Panyepian they will ask them-who break the regulation-to obey Catur Brata Panyepian. Indeed, what pecalang do is giving a great effect especially for children who usually use this chance to play in the road.

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The existence of Caka Lunar Calendar was the basis history that ended the hostilities among Indian tribes. They were Pahlawa, Yuehchi, Yuwana, Malawa, and Caka. They were fighting each other to have power. The Cakas were tired with this condition, so they changed their way of struggle not to defeat for power but for culture and prosperity.

125 BC the Kushana Dynasty from Yuehchi run India and was touched by the Caka’s effort, so the Kushana decided not to defeat the other tribes but it is used to tug all tribes in India by collecting every culture and put it as part of the palace culture. In year 79 AC, King Kaniska I from Kushana Dynasty and Yuehchi let the Caka Lunar Calendar system as the palace calendar. And on that day the tolerance among the Indian tribes arose. Due to the tolerance and unity, the Caka Lunar Calender System expanded through the spreading of Hindu.

In Indonesia, the Caka Lunar Calendar had been extended in the 4th century as the Hindu expansion. It was brought by Aji Caka, a priest of Caka Tribe from Kshatrapa Gujarat (India).

In Bali, the celebration of Caka Lunar Calendar is celebrated annually by doing Nyepi which means sepi (silent) on March or early of April. It is based on Lontar Sundarigama and Sanghyang Aji Swamandala (Hindu’s manuscript). The philosophy of Nyepi itself is to control our senses through catur brata penyepian (four ways to control ourselves); amati geni (to turn off the fire – the fire of anger, fire of passion), amati karya (not doing any work/activity except focusing on God), amati lelungan (not going anywhere), and amati lelanguan (far from the worldly pleasure). So, what is the correlation between the philosophy of Nyepi and the environment preservation?

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Monday, 3/19/2007, early in the morning, the island of Bali will be blanketed with silence. Nyepi, Balinese New Year is celebrated with day of silence, fasting, and meditation.
Observed from 6 a.m. until 6 a.m. the next morning, Nyepi is a day reserved for contemplation and as such, anything that might interfere with that purpose is restricted. The main restrictions are Amati Geni (no lighting fires); Amati Karya (no working); Amati Lelanguan (no entertainment or pleasure); and Amati Lelungan (no traveling); and for some, no talking or eating at all. Prohibition against lighting fires includes the use of light bulb and electricity, but there is an exception for those who sick or if there is an infant in a family, a minimum light is allowed. However, the emergency services such as hospitals are operational. Exceptions are granted for emergency vehicles carrying those with life-threatening conditions and women about to give birth and the pecalang, traditional security force will open roads and assist people to a hospital in emergencies.

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