An Expat Ogoh-Ogoh by Leonard Lueras
Work has already started on a five meters high mysterious creature hidden behind a huge sheet with Styrofoam chips lying by then. The only clue to his identity are threatening sharp claws that protrude from below.
The men of our banjar create one of the newest and most unique art forms in Bali, a paper mache doll Ogoh-Ogoh giant statue, which will be a demon or another formidable character, which is become an integral part of the forthcoming celebration of Nyepi, March 12.
hoisted on the shoulders of men and boys village, elaborately made puppets are designed with enthusiasm all over Bali. During the weeks preceding the traditional annual celebration, disembodied heads, hands and arms are scattered storey workshop in almost every community rooms of the island village (banjar) as craftsmen bend, shape, paint and cut the foam and decorate headless torsos before the final threading hideous masks on top.
manufacturing giant puppets in fact only began in the early 1980s, when then-Governor of Bali, Mantra I first conceived the idea of staging an annual parade in Kampung around the capital during the pre-Nyepi celebrations. Nyepi has since become so popular that tourists plan their vacations around the event throughout the island and pickpockets hide among the rowdy crowd prey on the unsuspecting. Restrictions on parades are imposed by local politics. ogoh-ogoh raucous processions are forbidden during an election year where fights may break out between the various political factions.
Many beautiful puppets have a very energetic quality hovering above the crowds or jumping against the explosion of confetti-like environments. Ogoh-ogoh is proof that the visual arts of Bali are always reinventing itself, and the Balinese festivals are in a state of constant renewal and exciting.
A veritable gallery of thugs make up the repertoire of amazing creatures made and jostled about in processions of ogoh-ogoh when a demon is worth its salt is sure to make his or her appearance. Predominance are characters from the Ramayana and Mahabharata epics: Krishna, the Dewata Nawasanga nine heads, Gatotkaca giant heads multiple manifestations of Durga; an elephantine Ganesha; Kumbhakarna monstrous, as well as characters of the native Balinese mythology, Rangda, daughter Rurung, large puppets and Barong Landung Bawi Srenggi who was cursed for his ruthless ambition to marry the rice goddess Dewi Sri
contemporary life is seen in the riding beasts to large motorcycles chopper back, swigging beer tourists, Babi Guling sellers, icons of pop culture, rock guitarists, robots, comic characters like SpongeBob and Doraemon, and all sorts of other wacky creations arise from the fertile minds and demonic Balinese artisans.
it is sometimes difficult to identify who or what is represented. asked passers produce very different interpretations, so it's fun to try to guess the number is among all the beasts red face, cryptic and unspeakable, crude, drooling zombies eyeless, miserable and demigod half human figures , some of which are chasing the kids terrified air.
After all the noisy festivities died down, there is a feeling of apprehension at the approach of night. But with increasing serenity sun tomorrow, the island feels somehow purged. As one form of Balinese art perishable - lamak (palm leaf decorations), the giant towers of cremation, figures from the underworld Batara Kala, etc. - Ogoh-ogoh the beloved are transported to the flames in the days following the Day of Silence, having already fulfilled their mission to neutralize the negative forces generally wandering around the island.
giant puppets are created at the Nyepi, the Balinese day of Silence, which paves the way for the new year in the Bali Hindu calendar when no vehicles can drive on the roads, no planes can land or go, no light is allowed, no phone can ring, no fires may be lit the government similar stations local television not to broadcast.
But do not get the idea that Balinese just sitting in the dark and meditate. Few people these days on Bali are trained in spiritual disciplines. Nyepi is practiced in different ways and applied to varying degrees depending on where you live on the island. In cities the authorities tend to be stricter about the application than in the countryside where the pace is much slower. Villagers remain inside until about 10 hours, and then go out to visit friends, go out into the local banjar, play and gossip. Farmers have to feed the pigs and cows that do not take a holiday eating.
But even in our small hamlet in the countryside, we must totally black on our windows to watch TV on the long night of Nyepi or otherwise we are fine. I remember two years ago, while staying in a villa in the remote Tejakula, Nyepi was very rigid applied. I was driven to the beach at midnight with a patrol guard, although I do not bother anyone, just sitting there in glorious silence, with the sound of waves and the bright stars.
Anyone who lives anywhere in Bali can not help but keep their thoughts not to turn inward during this special day. You do not have to be sitting in a lotus position surrounded by incense and incantations burning priests to experience inner peace. There are many times during the day and evening hushed when everyone in Bali is left alone. I love working in the garden and do other contemplative activities on this beautiful day silent. You can hear the wind and other sounds of nature. I love Nyepi why, and I wish it was held once a week every week of the year
By its very nature, Nyepi is a day when there is little to distract mind -. No loud voices, no mobile phones ringing, no radio, no horns or spray motorcycle sounds. A moonless night game against a black pitch-sky punctured by distant stars is naturally conducive to reflection. Nyepi is as close to a state of deep inner contemplation that we can achieve in Bali today.
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