RRI.CO.ID, Denpasar - The streets of Sanur were transformed into a vibrant stage for Balinese mythology on Thursday, March 12, 2026, as 20 massive ogoh-ogoh (big statues reflect the bad attitudes of humans and the negative side of nature) were paraded as part of the Sanur Metangi Festival 2026.

Festival Sanur Metangi is a prominent cultural and community event held in Sanur, Bali. The name metangi translates to "arising" or "awakening" in the Balinese language, symbolizing a spiritual and social revival of the local community.

The parade, which serves as a significant cultural attraction leading up to the Nyepi (Day of Silence) celebrations, showcased the creative process of youth from various banjars (neighborhood associations) across the Sanur region. Each ogoh-ogoh was presented through a choreographed performance, blending the towering sculptures with fragments of traditional dance.

Ida Bagus Prajiskana Jisnu, Chairman of the Sanur Metangi 2026 Committee, explained that the 20 featured works were the result of a rigorous selection process. On March 1, an initial judging phase evaluated 27 candidates, narrowing them down to the final participants based on strict artistic criteria.

“Because this is a work of craftsmanship, anatomy, character, and expression are the highest-rated points in the assessment,” Jisnu said, as quoted by Antara.

The participants represented three key areas: Sanur Kaja and the Sanur Village (providing six statues each), and Sanur Kauh, which contributed eight works due to a higher number of initial entrants. To ensure impartiality, the committee employed independent judges from outside the Sanur area. A final round of judging took place during the festival parade to determine the ultimate winners.

The festival's appeal reached beyond local residents, attracting significant interest from international tourists. For the first time, the committee implemented a VIP ticketing system priced at IDR 200,000 to help fund the event, which currently operates on limited resources.

Chairman of the Sanur Development Foundation, Ida Bagus Gde Sidarta Putra, highlighted the strong market enthusiasm. Hotels in the area purchased nearly 300 VIP seats for their guests, demonstrating the festival's commercial viability.

“Once we offered it to the hotels, it was quite good; they bought almost 300 seats. Just yesterday, 280 VIP seats were sold. Automatically, the enthusiasm is quite high, it is not easy to sell [tickets] for IDR 350,000 (USD 20.66) to tourists,” he noted, referencing the successful uptake despite the premium pricing.

Looking ahead, the foundation expressed hope that the festival will secure larger sponsorships to allow for free public access while continuing to serve as a platform for youth education. Sidarta Putra observed that the ogoh-ogoh creations have evolved significantly, moving beyond simple giant figures to complex concepts featuring diverse materials and advanced coloring techniques.

“If we can grow this into a larger festival, it can become an added value for Sanur,” he remarked.

The organizers believe that by formalizing the event into a major cultural agenda, Sanur can further cement its reputation as a premier destination for travelers seeking authentic cultural experiences during the Nyepi season. ***