The new year
is celebrated with pomp almost everywhere in the world. And being home to a unique
culturei , Bali has its own way to ring in the new year. Leave your trumpets and
fireworks at home ,for the Balinese are flooding the streets of their island
with evil monsters in welcoming the Caka
New Year.
The first day of the Caka New Year on the Balinese calendar,
call Nyepi is marked with complete silence. On this day, activities that involve
pleasure ,fire and work are prohibited even the island’s international airport
is closed for 24 hours .In the streets ,the odd stray dogs may wander past but that’s about it. With
the being said, celebrations take place
across the island the evening before ,with people flocking the streets
of their villages to take part in the hype.
Known as Ngerupuk Parade , the new year’s eve festivity
takes place literally in every village
in Bali ; and this includes Kuta and Seminyak ( which area also villages in
case you didn’t knw ). Each village has a number of smaller units called Banjar
; and each Banjar will design and build their coolest ,most evil looking giant
puppet or Ogoh-Ogoh to join in the street parade.
The nama Ogoh-Ogoh is derived from the Balinese “ Ogoh-ogoh “,meaning
“ to shake “ and it represents the Bhuta –Kala or evil spirits,vices that
need to be kept away from human. Many local from Banjar community willcarry their
Ogoh-Ogoh in a convoy,shaking it to make it look likes it’s moving and
dancing.Of course,different Ogoh-Ogoh
have different functions , so when made
to move they produce different actions.
The parade normally leads into an intersection,causing the
convoy to circle around, which pushes the on lookers outwards and tighter
together.Then more men will appear behind the float,playing instruments as they
run and circle their village’s demon creation.All this movement and sound
symbolies a duel between the demon and the village . But the commotion doesn,t
end anytime soon ,for dozen of Banjars take part in one parade. Some of the
Ogoh-Ogoh will then burnt after being paraded around as a symbol of purification.
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