Bali’s Best Ogoh-Ogoh Parades Are Unmissable For Tourists

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The countdown is on to one of the most exciting ceremonies in Bali. The Ogoh-Ogoh Parades are easily the most exhilarating and fascinating of all of Bali’s rituals, and they are ones that tourists are welcome to come and observe, photograph, and revel in. 

Here at The Bali Sun, we love sharing Balinese culture with our readers. We love this time of year in Bali. Nyepi Day, also known as the holy day of silence, is the most important day of the year for local people, and it is an honour to be on the island at this time.

From 6 am on Nyepi Day, until 6 am the following morning, the whole island falls still and silent. No one is allowed to leave their home or accommodation, no travel is permitted, and no use of electricity or lights is allowed either. This year, Nyepi Day will be observed on the 19th March. 

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The night before Nyepi Day, the island is quite the opposite of still and silent. The island erupts in an evening of loud gamelan music, fire-filled parades, and, of course, the fierce Ogoh-Ogoh are paraded through every village on the island. The Ogoh-Ogoh are ornately crafted, handmade statues of gruesome and fearsome creatures.

These statues, which sometimes become effigies, are made by the young men of each village and take months upon months to build. The community comes together and makes donations for the materials, sometimes local businesses sponsor materials, and in villages where there are many tourist villas, donations are collected from visitors, too. 

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The Ogoh-Ogoh are seriously big, sometimes taking groups of up to 30 men to carry through the streets. In many villages, the young children and then the groups of teenagers will make smaller Ogoh-Ogoh that are also paraded through the streets ahead of the main statue. Parades tend to start around nightfall, and road closures come into effect from 4 pm. 

Anyone who is in Bali on the 18th March must go and see their closest Ogoh-Ogoh parade. We say the closest Ogoh-Ogoh parade, since it is customary that everyone walks home after the event, typically everyone in Bali is in position ahead of Nyepi, by 11 pm the night before. It will be difficult to get a taxi anywhere after the parades. 

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The biggest Ogoh-Ogoh Parades will be taking place in the following spots. 

Denpasar City

Denpasar: Puputan Square

Sanur: McDonald’s & KFC intersection

South Bali

Kuta: Jalan Legian & Jalan Kuta

Seminyak: Jalan Oberoi & Jalan Kayu Aya

Canggu: Jalan Batu Bolong & Berawa

Seseh: Jalan Raya Tanah Lot & Jalan Pantai Munggu

Jimbaran: Jalan Uluwatu

Uluwatu: Jalan Raya Uluwatu, Pecatu

Central Bali

Ubud: Ubud Soccer Field

Kota Gianyar: Gianyar Market

Tabanan: Taman Kota Tabanan

North Bali

Singaraja: Jalan Diponegoro

Pemuteran: Pulaki Temple

Nusa Penida: Toyapakeh

Tourists staying outside of these areas are advised to check in with their accommodation hosts to find out about the plans for their local Ogoh-Ogoh Parade. Tourists are permitted to take photos and videos of the parade in a respectful manner. Tourists are reminded to always cooperate with local pecalanag (village security officers) who will be in charge of road closures and diversion, as well as crowd control and public safety throughout Nyepi. 

There is one community in Bali that does things a little differently.  Lantangidung Traditional Village, in Gianyar Regency, close to Ubud, has its own pre-Nyepi traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation. In Lantangidung Village, there will be no Ogoh-Ogoh parade on the 18th March, but instead the 80 families in the village remain steadfast in their traditional practice of fire metagel, a game of throwing flaming coconut fibers at each other as part of the Nyepi celebrations.

The Head of Lantangidung Traditional Village, Drs. I Wayan Sujana, aged 70, said that since his birth, no Ogoh-Ogoh have been made in the village.

He told reporters, “There haven’t been any ogoh-ogoh here for a long time. Perhaps the elders have their own pemuwus (religious leaders) or considerations. We’re simply continuing what’s been passed down.”