Bali News

Banjar people in Denpasar City and also in other areas in Bali had prepare hundred of “ogoh-ogoh” – sculpture in form of monster to be parade one night before Nyepi day – for “Pengerupukan” – a day before Nyepi – ritual on Monday night (March 15) in relation with Nyepi celebration.

As in Banjar Lelangon, Denpasar, on Sunday that had finished their ogoh-ogoh making in the form of evil monster in the middle of a fight with a giant tiger, is ready to parade around the village at “Pengrupukan” night.

Denpasar City government also had finished judged 318 ogoh-ogoh that will be parade on Monday night (March 15) before Nyepi day conducted. The judges in this ogoh-ogoh competition come from various communities, starting from sculpture artist, Hindu expert and any other communities.

According to one of Banjar Lelangon citizen in Denpasar, the tiger symbolize good power, the winner against evil power. All this time, monster always become the main theme for ogoh-ogoh parade. Meanwhile, at Banjar Tainsiat neighborhood with Banjar Lelangon, the identical ogoh-ogoh made by that area also made artistically and impressing the duel of two powers as its personified floating in the air, also ready to be paraded on “Pengerupukan” ritual.

Banjar Tainsiat ogoh-ogoh is dominated by the form of a giant monster of various shades with “Styrofoam” as its material. This material is very useful, since we could shape it at will, according to the need and light enough. We just need to give wire or steel framework, so those two giants could connect each other and hide shapes that won’t to be seen to the viewers,” said Made Suci on of that banjar citizen.

Hindu in Bali conducting series of Nyepi ritual welcoming New Year Saka Year 1932 or well known as Nyepi day on Tuesday, March 16th. It began with Melasti – went to the sea for purifications ceremony – for two days since Saturday (March 13) in order to purifying the nature and souls. This ritual conducted in numbers of beach such as at Padanggalak Beach and Sanur Beach.

Before, there are 318 ogoh-ogoh made by sekeha (group) Teruna-Teruni (STT) – youth – at district level around Denpasar city were judged.

The secretary of Cultural Agency in Denpasar, I Nyoman Suastama previously stated that those 318 ogoh-ogoh were judged in a competition celebrating Denpasar 58th Annual Anniversary.

According to Suastama, the evaluation conducted on February 26 up to 28 involved six judges led by I Komang Astita. From that 108 ogoh-ogoh, only 24 of them could went through second examination on Pengerupukan night on March 15 2010 competing for I, II, III winner and hopes I, II, III.

Those ogoh-ogoh ready to parade on Pengrupukan night, at day they will put on view in front each banjar office or at the roadside as it was that ogoh-ogoh manufacturing location.

News by ANTARA Bali