KISE – The Ogoh-Ogoh festival is one of the most fascinating events among the series of Nyepi ceremonies that many people look forward to experiencing. Ogoh-ogoh is a statue or giant doll with a scary shape as which represents Bhuta Kala, a mystical figure that creates negative energy in humans. During the parade, ogoh-ogoh will be paraded around the village and then burned. Let’s find out more about it!
Expression of Gratitude
The name of ogoh-ogoh is taken from the Balinese language, namely “ogah-ogah” which means “something which is shaken“. The ogoh-ogoh festival was first held in 1983 when the Indonesian Government decided to commemorate Nyepi as a national holiday. As an expression of gratitude, make the ogoh-ogoh. As the time goes by, this culture spread widely throughout Bali and now is involved in the parade of Balinese Art Festival XII, is an annual arts festival in Bali, that celebrates, preserves and develops Balinese art and culture.
The image of human vices is represented in the form of Bhuta Kala. In Hinduism, Bhuta Kala symbolizes the power of the universe (Bhu) and the symbol of incalculable time (kala). This means that the unseen natural potential cannot be explored thoroughly by anyone or with any philosophy. Rather, thecivilized humans are rsupposed to manage natural resources without destroying the environment itself.
The Bad Nature of Humas
For the Balinese people, the ogoh-ogoh statue depicts the bad nature of humans that must be destroyed. In the context of Nyepi, ogoh-ogoh is a form of cleansing negative human traits to welcome the Saka new year by becoming a better human being. In its development, ogoh-ogoh festival becomes a platform to showcase creativity. In recent days, the people of Bali reimagine the Bhuta Kala or the evil spirit into many forms and creatures, like creature from hell such as Widyanari, or animal forms such as dragons, elephants, tigers, and plenty others.
Even today, ogoh-ogoh are also created to resemble world leaders, artists, or criminals who are considered cruel and greedy. During the parade, the ogoh-ogoh is rotated counter-clockwise three times, performed at each village junction and crossroads. This is meant to confuse the evil spirits so that they leave and no longer to harm humans.
Celebrating Ogoh-Ogoh Festival
The ogoh-ogoh festival is held one day before the Day of Nyepi celebration. Ogoh ogoh will be paraded around the villages accompanied by a Balinese gamelan called Baleganjur. Residents will take turns carrying the ogoh-ogoh and shaking them until they are torn apart. Once the ogoh-ogoh are torn apart, people will make applause and cheer for it. The ogoh-ogoh that have been paraded are then collected at one place to be burned as a symbol of eradicating human vices.
Besides being used as a sacred ritual, the ogoh-ogoh tradition also creates a forum for community to get together and be creative in the making of ogoh-ogoh statues. The making of ogoh-ogoh statues is also contested between regions to gain enthusiasm from the community to preserve this culture.