SOMETHING OF INTEREST
Ogoh-Ogoh
Bali will celebrate Nyepi on 12th March 2013, an auspicious occasion on the local calendar that is also reffered to as the day of silence. On the eve of this cultural holiday, giant monster effigies called ogoh-ogoh are paraded through the streets along with gongs and flaming torches in a noisy procession. The balinese believe that the ogoh-ogoh frighten away the negative forces of the underworld, which is an intrinsic component of the Hindu universe.
Traditionally, ogoh-ogoh effigies were created only in the lead up to Nyepi. However, the artistic spirit and sense of community that goes into the conception of these creatures has been recognised by the local government and there is now an annual ogoh-ogoh festival.
