NIGHTOF
THEOGOH-OGOH
Iwas inJava,notBali, yeton
thisNyepieve thesights, sounds
andsmellssurroundingmewere
distinctlyBalinese.Nyepi is the
Hindunewyear, a time toerasepast
misdeedsand torenewoneself for the
comingyear.TheBalinesedid this, in
part,with thehelpof the
ogoh-ogoh
, a
monstrouseffigysymbolizingall the
evildeedsof thepast12months.
Theritualbeganatsundown.
Guidedbyfire-breathersandshrieking
villagers, localsparaded theogoh-
ogoh through thestreets, spinning it
wildlyateverycrossing in thehopeof
confusing itso that itcouldnotreturn.
Towards the frontof theprocession, a
gamelan troupe incessantlyplayed its
brasspercussions; in theback, village
womensangBalinesehymns.
Thenightendedwith theogoh-ogoh
inflames—allevildeedswereerased.
I
M
M
I
G
R
A
T
I
O
N
I
N
D
O
N
E
S
I
A
MAR
2010
