Hindus praying on a Bali beach yesterday during a purification ceremony ahead of the holy day of Nyepi.

The Indonesian tourist island falls silent during the annual observance of Nyepi, the religious holiday which marks the Balinese new year.

Islanders spend the day fasting, praying and meditating, as well as refrain from using electricity, travelling outside the home or taking part in any form of entertainment.

Nyepi, which falls on Saturday this year, has been described as the day when nature takes a rest from human activity, and the island comes to a complete standstill.

Bali's international airport at Denpasar will shut down for 24 hours, from 6am on Saturday to 6am on Sunday, affecting nearly 500 flights.

According to local media, network provider Indosat has also agreed to halt Internet services for its users on Bali that day.