Denpasar, Bali (ANTARA News) - Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar, Bali, will be closed for 24 hours on March 5, 2011 on the occasion of Nyepi (Silence) Day, the provincial government announced.

Bali Province Transportation and Informatics Office head I Made Santha said on Tuesday the notification of the closure of Bali Airport was given in a letter from Bali Governor I Made Mangku Pastika to four ministries on November 30, 2010.

The four ministries were Foreign Affairs, Home Affairs, Transportation and Communication and Informatics.

Santha added that the notification has been conveyed to the relevant authorities four months ahead of the holiday so as to avoid unexpected problems arising from the closure of the airport during the holiday when no activities are permitted to take place.

Bali province government, he added, does not want to see a chaos during the holiday if airlines and travel agencies do not adjust their schedules for Bali. It is expected that all arrivals or departures from Bali are scheduled a day earlier or later from March 5, 2011.

The Day of Silence is observed strictly in Bali in accordance with Hinduism embraced by the people on the island where Hinduism in the biggest religion.

Based on Balinese Hinduism faith, during the holiday the people are not allowed to perform four prohibitions, namely those linked with fire (electricity), working activity, travel and entertainment (music and dancing). (*)

Editor: Kunto Wibisono
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