Balinese Sacred Giant Paper Statues

Nyepi is one of many Balinese sacred days. Just before Nyepi, there are many rituals done by the locals. Right in the Nyepi eve, the locals would gather Ogoh-ogoh, Balinese Sacred Giant Paper Statues from all districts. They will finally ‘battle’ the Ogoh-ogoh late at night.

Ogoh-ogoh are monster statues made of bamboo and paper designed for the Ngrupuk parade. Ogoh-ogoh usually is designed to look like the mythological creatures, most of the time, in a shape of demons. Ogoh-ogoh is made as a symbol to purify the environment from any spiritual waste made by the people during their daily activities.

On the procession in the Nyepi eve, the Ogoh-ogoh is turned aoround three times to the left. This is a symbol of the connection of the bodies to the spirits. This Ogoh-ogoh act is held in every corner of the village. It is done as a way to confuse the evil spirits in order to let them will go away and will not bring negative effect into human beings