It 's an opportune time to be young , free and single - or deeply in love with your significant other - in the tiny Balinese village of Denpasar . Every year , one day after Balinese Hindus celebrate the Nyepi Day of Silence , thousands of locals gather in the streets to take part in a kissing ritual known as omed omedan . Participants gather en masse in town centre to party and kiss , in an event that is believed to ensure good health and prosperity to all those taking part , as well as protecting the village from bad luck during the year ahead . Scroll down for video . Every year thousands of locals gather in the streets to take part in the kissing ritual - known as omed omedan - in Denpasar . The so-called kissing ritual happens one day after Balinese Hindus celebrate the Nyepi Day of Silence , marking the start of the new year . It 's believed the ritual brings good health and prosperity to those taking part , as well as protecting the village from bad luck . And just in case participants get a little too amorous , village priests are on hand with buckets of water to dampen the passions of lustful couples in the usually conservative country . The ritual - which translates into 'pull , pull ' - is believed to have started around 100 years ago as way for village youths to mark the first day of the new year . It 's not clear when , or why , mass kissing became incorporated into the tradition . Omed omedan traditionally involves unmarried villagers , aged 17 to 30 , and begins with prayer before the kissing begins . Village priests are on hand with buckets of water to dampen the passions of lustful couples . The omed omedan ritual - which translates into 'pull , pull ' - is believed to have started around 100 years ago . It 's not clear when , or why , mass kissing became incorporated into the tradition , but it attracts thousands of participants every year . Omed omedan traditionally involves unmarried villages , aged 17 to 30 , and begins with the prayer before the kissing begins . Whether is just a good excuse to find a date or not , the revellers in these images appear to be making the most of the celebrations . According to a report by Indonesia Now , the tradition is said to originate from a fight between a male and female pig hundreds of years ago . As one would expect , many relationships blossom from the event after two villagers lock lips for the first time . A participant told Indonesia Now that many couples eventually get married after sharing a traditional kiss .
Annual festival is called ' ng omedan ' , which literally means ' pull , pull ' Thousands of devotees in tiny Balinese village of Denpasar gather for mass initiation ceremony . The ceremony is believed to bring good luck and prosperity to those taking part . Village priests throw water over participants to douse the flames of passion .