"Are there any fights between the Hindus and the Muslims?" I asked Gede.
"Oh yes. Several years ago there was a big fight. We were celebrating the Silent Festival."
"Silent Festival?"
"Ah yes. We call it the Nyepi. We are required to remain silent for 24 hours. It is a time for self-reflection, meditation and fasting."
"So, what happened?"
"The Muslims did not respect our festival. They talked loudly and the loudspeakers from the mosque disrupted our meditation. There was a big riot. People were fighting on the streets. The police had to interfere. After that, they banned loudspeakers in mosques. The Muslims are not allowed to build any more mosques."
Hmm ...
The footages above were taken during the Opening Ceremony of a commercial building in Kuta. The participant in this ritual were the employee.
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