Ogoh-Ogoh

Bali prepares for Nyepi!  New Year's Day arrives on March 5.
The day before there is a big parade of Ogoh- Ogoh, larger than life fantastical demons created by each banjar (individual village), or even family compounds.
  Creativity Unleashed.  I have been watching  little boys for weeks collect wood for the initial structures.

As I have been traveling around, I or Jantuk will catch sight of one, we screetch to a halt and jump out to admire with oooohs and ahhhhs and photograph them at whatever stage of progress they are at present.  The kids come after school and work on them..... so between 3- sundown it is a behive of activity.  BUT< only Boys make Ogoh-Ogoh.  I  have tried to gain an understanding regarding this..... but everyone seems pretty intransigent with this gender specific role.

Nyepi is a day of silence.  The airport shuts down.  No electricity, no food,no leaving the house..... Nada.  If a tourist leaves their hotel they are asked to respect the Balinese tradition.  It is a day of reflection, similar to Yom Kippur.
As far as I can glean...... it is the only day the Balinese are not social, continually laughing, joking and convivial. 

cockfighting right in the banjar, next to ogoh-ogoh making

The ogoh-ogoh represent the demons that they want to "bypass" Bali.  If the Balinese are silent, the demons will find an "uninhabited" island and not land as they fly over.

right outside Honeymoon 2

Jalan Bisma- they are in the throes

The day before, they form a parade of the ogoh-ogoh, lots of chaos and merry- making.  They want to "confuse" the ogoh-ogoh and send their spirits flying away.  Then there is a huge bonfire setting aflame the demons.

In Bunutan, Jantuk's family compound

that's Putu, his eldest and his cousins

Jantuk's uncle is creating the mask; he's a carver

What a tradition!  Another example of why I love Bali and the Balinese.  The richness of their culture reigns, and I feel so grateful that it is as rich still, so strong amidst the onslaught of tourism and globalization.  I am also grateful
to have the opportunity to live here as I have.
Amen.
travelin' woman