Ogoh-ogoh

Ogoh-ogoh (Balinese: ᬳᭀᬕᭀᬄᬳᭀᬕᭀᬄ) is a sculpture art form in Balinese culture that is typically paraded during Pangrupukan, a Hindu Balinese tradition held to welcome Nyepi (the Saka New Year).^[1] This tradition is part of the Tawur Kesanga procession, a Hindu Balinese ritual aimed at neutralizing negative forces in the surrounding environment and "appeasing" beings from the lower realms before the turn of the Saka Year. During the Pangrupukan parade, ogoh-ogoh symbolizes the evils of human nature or negativity in the universe. Therefore, after the parade ends, ogoh-ogoh is eventually burned as a representation of eliminating those negative traits. The burning usually takes place in the village cemetery field.

Ogoh-ogoh are generally made in each banjar, which is a traditional Balinese community organization equivalent to a neighborhood association. The figure of Butakala, a supernatural being or inhabitant of the "lower realm" in Hindu beliefs, is a common theme for ogoh-ogoh and is considered to represent negative qualities within humans. However, in modern times, many ogoh-ogoh take the form of mythological animals, characters from wayang (shadow puppetry) or Hindu literature, and even Hindu gods and goddesses. Ogoh-ogoh can be made as individual figures, in pairs, or in groups. The common materials used are woven bamboo or rattan—or even styrofoam—then covered with paper. The creation process takes weeks or even months, depending on the complexity and the number of craftsmen involved.

The ogoh-ogoh tradition, as it is known today, is a relatively new cultural practice. It is estimated to have developed in the 1980s, although ogoh-ogoh had existed in earlier years in a much simpler form and was not yet widely recognized. The traditions of lelakut, pelebonan statues, and Barong Landung are believed to be the roots and early inspirations for the development of ogoh-ogoh. Today, ogoh-ogoh has become a distinctive feature of Nyepi celebrations and is frequently held as a competition at various levels across Bali almost every year.

Outside Bali, the ogoh-ogoh tradition is also practiced in regions with a significant Hindu population (especially those celebrating Nyepi), such as East Java, Lampung, West Nusa Tenggara, East Kalimantan, South Sulawesi, and others. In these areas, the ogoh-ogoh parade is seen as a symbol of interfaith harmony, with participation not limited to Hindus. Besides cities outside Bali, ogoh-ogoh has also been showcased in several cultural parades abroad.