Bali prior to Nyepi Holiday

DENPASAR (indo.com): On March 30, 2003 the Balinese Hindus throughout Bali will gather all sacred apparatus symbolizing the supremacy of God in the community temple for the great purification ceremony.

This purification ceremony is called "Melasti or Melis". Thousands of temples adherents in Bali will go to the beaches of Bali, especially Kuta and Sanur, carrying their respective temple effigies. This will start at dawn until noon and even until late in the afternoon. On this particular day, colorful procession ceremonies will be held along the Bali's beaches. This ceremony is an elaborate spiritual purification for the whole villages and for everyone as well.

The days after Melasti, or the dead moon, called Tawur Agung Kesanga (Great Sacrificial Ceremony), will be held to welcome Nyepi Holiday on April 1, 2003. It is also called Pengerupukan day. The procession starts from every family compound, village, up to provincial area. The event will be centralized at Puputan Square down town of Denpasar at noon.

On the same day or after the Great Sacrificial Ceremony has completed, the ritual will be followed by procession of Ogoh - Ogoh (huge monster dolls) demonstration rallies in the evening up to late, and take place along the village and city roads. Those monster dolls are symbol of evil spirits.

This significant Ogoh - Ogoh demonstration is meant to take away the evil spirits' world and any other negative influences. So, it might be a very noisy day, particularly at the evening. The noisy voices are produced by beating out 'kulkul' (traditional bamboo bell) even other teens prepare the fire torch. The kulkul and the fire torch are brought through the house compound, in order to cast away the evil spirits. It is believed that the evil spirits are scared of noises and lighting fire.

Every 'banjar' (traditional community association) usually make their own Ogoh-ogoh since it is contested in town. If you really want to experience on this special day, just come down to Denpasar. You will be amazed of watching various giant monster dolls of Ogoh - Ogoh.