As the sun sets the children begin to drift away and slowly the procession forms for the return home accompanied by the sound of the gongs and the people, happy that the annual seaside ceremony has been accomplished for the purification of their temples' deities before the new year. All over the island these processions are a common sight three days prior to Nyepi. The villages turn out in their sarongs and kebayas for women, and sarongs and shirts for the men, all with traditional sashes used for religious ceremomies tied around their waists. The day before Nyepi, this ceremony is held at the Puputan Badung Square in Denpasar. At midday when the sun has reached its zenith, the rituals are performed by three priests, each belonging to a different creed Shivaism, Buddhism, and Sengguhu-ism.
Incense fills the air and the reciting of the wedas are accompanied by the tinkling of bells.
As the congregation sits quietly, the gamelan turns out solemn beats in keeping with the occasion, Sacrifices of animals are made including that of a buffalo head meant to maintain the balance of nature. As Nyepi is held after the rains and the beginning of the dry season, the ceremony is to purify the earth which has become soiled and return it to its state of harmony. These are all for the evil spirits or Bhuta Kala. As dusk gathers, the Ngerupuk- ceremony starts with the beating of pots and pans, loud noises to drive away the evil spirits. The noise is followed by lit torches which are taken throughout the house and compound to exorcise the evil spirits.