KBRN Denpasar: Approaching the Nyepi (Day of Silence) celebration, which is to fall on March 29, 2025, Balinese people are busy preparing 'ogoh-ogoh', a symbol of the embodiment of evil figure Bhuta Kala, which will be paraded in the Tawur Kesanga parade.

Tawur Kesanga is a ritual observed by the Balinese Hindu community on the day before Nyepi, a Hindu holiday celebrated in Bali which marks the Balinese New Year. This year's Nyepi is to fall on March 29, 2025.

'Ogoh-ogoh', a large statue depicting an evil figure, is an inseparable part of the tradition of welcoming Nyepi. The statue represents demons and negative elements that are believed to threaten the balance of the universe.

After the Tawur Kesangan parade, some ogoh-ogoh are burned as a symbolic gesture to vanquish the evil spirits and cleanse the environment, leading up to the serene and reflective Nyepi Day.

The supervisor of Sekaa Truna Satya Dharma Laksana, Ida Bagus Tri Premavada, said that in making 'ogoh-ogoh', the committee prioritizes the use of environmentally friendly materials in accordance with government recommendations.

“The main materials we use are used paper such as used newspapers, as well as woven bamboo and rattan. We do not use Styrofoam to preserve the environment," he said in Denpasar, Sunday, March 2, 2025, quoted by rri.co.id.

Ida Bagus Tri explained that this year, the ogoh-ogoh made in Banjar Abian Kapas Kelod raised the philosophy of the three fires in humans.

"The three fires include the fire of knowledge, the fire of creation, and the fire of melting. The tantra teachings in this concept teach how people control the fire, whether it will be used as a creator or as a destroyer," he explained.

Ida Bagus Tri added that one of the biggest challenges faced by the committee was the participation of young people in making 'ogoh-ogoh'. However, the committee remains optimistic that this year's 'ogoh-ogoh' parade will run smoothly and maintain the essence of tradition.

The 'ogoh-ogoh' made by artists and young people in Banjar Abian Kapas Kelod are ready to be part of the Nyepi celebration. ***