March 26, 2026, 4:36 p.m. ET
An American tourist in Bali was reportedly detained on March 19 for violating the customs of what’s considered the most sacred Hindu holiday in the popular tourist destination, according to Balinese media.
Karl Adolf Amrhein, 57, was caught by law enforcement, called pecalang, walking down the main road in the village of Sukawati at around 7:15 a.m. with a bag, the police chief of Gianyar AKBP Chandra Kesuma told media outlets Hey Bali and Antara News.
While most people wouldn’t think walking outside would get them in trouble with law enforcement, the specific date of the incident played a major role.
Starting at 5:59 a.m. on March 19 and ending at the same time on March 20, the Balinese New Year of Nyepi, also called the Day of Silence, is meant to be a time of self-reflection, meditation and prayer, according to a dedicated website for the holiday. Based on the Hindu calendar, the days leading up to and the day after Nyepi include lively celebrations and rituals.
For those 24 hours of Nyepi, Bali essentially shuts down. People don’t use electricity and stay indoors with their curtains shut. Schools, businesses and restaurants close down, and even Ngurah Rai International Airport ceases operations.
It’s also expected that tourists observe the holiday and don’t leave their accommodations. Most hotels will inform guests in advance of the observations and still provide basic services throughout the 24 hours.
According to Hey Bali, Amrhein told officials he was outside because he had checked out of his hotel and was without new accommodations.
“Upon receiving this acknowledgement, Sukawati Police personnel, assisted by the Pecalang of Sukawati Traditional Village, explained that currently there is a Nyepi celebration on the island of Bali, where there is no activity for one day,” Kesuma said, as reported by Antara News.
Officers reportedly offered the tourist the option to stay at the police station until the holiday was over, which he declined, and then found him a new hotel.
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