Bali Island, Indonesia - Government authorities on Bali ordered the island's airport and all seaports closed Thursday and told visitors not to try to enter the resort island when local residents are observing their Lunar New Year, also known as the Day of Silence.

"Both domestic and foreign tourists who want to go to Bali on Thursday are advised to change their schedule because it will be a day of absolute silence without lights, work, traffic, etc," I Putu Suardhika, Bali's provincial administration spokesman, said Tuesday.

Suardhika said air, land and sea transportation to and from Bali would be halted for 24 hours from 6 am Thursday (2200 GMT Wednesday).

Bali airport manager Alex Pudjianto said as many as 150 scheduled international and domestic airliners would be banned from landing or taking off during the closure of Ngurah Rai International Airport.

Millions of residents and tourists were scheduled to observe the annual Day of Silence, a Hindu New Year observance during which the entire island shuts down and people are banned from the streets.

The New Year, called Nyepi, is one of the most important religious events for Balinese Hindus, who observe it with silence, fasting and meditation.

Suardhika explained that sea transportation at four sea ports on Bali - Benoa in Denpasar, Celukan Bawang in Buleleng, Gilimanuk, and Padangbai - would stop operating Thursday. He said those who really want to go to Bali should arrive before midnight Wednesday.

Bali's beaches are also to be deserted, and residents and visitors alike are required to remain indoors and keep any conversations quiet.

More than 4 million Balinese Hindus are to fast and meditate throughout the day and pray for a better future.

They are forbidden from lighting fires and turning on lights, televisions or radios during the 24-hour period.

Indonesia has the world's largest Muslim population at more than 190 million, but it also has minority populations of Hindus, Christians, Buddhists and animists. (dpa)