Short Facts:
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Ogoh-Ogoh are giant demon figures made of bamboo and paper
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They are carried through the streets in a large procession on the evening before Nyepi , the Balinese New Year.
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Goal: to make the island’s evil spirits visible – and then drive them away
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Tip: Even small towns like Medewi offer impressive parades, often more authentic than those in Ubud or Denpasar
Anyone visiting Bali around Nyepi will experience not only one of the quietest days of the year, but also one of the most impressive nights: the Ogoh Ogoh parade . Gigantic demons are built, presented, and burned. It's loud, chaotic, spiritual—and absolutely fascinating.
I was there myself in 2025, in Medewi , a small town on the west coast of Bali. What I saw there wasn't a spectacle for tourists—it was a living tradition. And that's precisely what makes Ogoh-Ogoh so special.
🌑 What is Nyepi?
Nyepi is the Balinese New Year—but instead of fireworks and celebrations, it means silence. No lights. No traffic. No internet.
A complete day of reflection, purification, and returning to balance.
But before everything settles down, everything that disturbs is made visible once again: noise, chaos, demons—evil. And this happens the evening before.
👹 Ogoh-Ogoh – Demons made of bamboo and paint
Ogoh-Ogoh are usually 3 to 5 meter tall figures , constructed by young people from bamboo, papier-mâché, and scraps of fabric. They depict demons, evil spirits, or social problems—sometimes very creative, sometimes deliberately frightening.
In the days before Nyepi, they are built, painted, and decorated in the villages – and then carried through the streets the evening before in a wild, noisy procession accompanied by drums, gamelan music, and fireworks.
At the end they are burned symbolically or actually – as a sign of purification.
🐉 Who is the Barong?
A figure often seen before the Ogoh-Ogoh parade is the Barong – a lion-like creature that symbolizes good .
In many villages, including Medewi, a ceremony takes place in the temple the evening before, during which the Barong performs, dances, or blesses. This is often the spiritual climax of the entire ritual—and well worth seeing.
If you have the chance, don’t just go to the parade—go to the temple too!
🌍 Medewi instead of Ubud? The best places for ogoh-ogoh
Many tourists are drawn to Denpasar or Ubud , where the parades are huge and perfectly staged. But if you want to experience the real Bali , it's worth taking a look at smaller towns like:
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Medewi: authentic, quiet, local. You're often the only tourist.
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Sidemen: magical setting in the mountains, with a strong connection to spirituality
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Amed: great coastal atmosphere and committed village community
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Canggu: more modern, but some Banjar districts participate with full heart and soul
🌱 Ogoh-Ogoh and sustainability – a growing topic
The tradition brings a lot of creativity – but also waste. In some regions, there are now initiatives to build ogoh-ogoh from recycled materials or to clean them after burning.
Oceanmata supports this position:
Tradition yes – but with respect for nature.
Because even as we celebrate and banish, the ocean remains – and needs our protection. With every Oceanmata product , 1 kg of ocean plastic is removed – even here in Bali.
Conclusion: Ogoh-Ogoh is more than just a move
If you really want to understand Bali, be there the night before Nyepi. Watch children play with paint , teenagers dance demons , and entire villages come together to prepare for a day of silence.
Whether you're in Ubud , Canggu , or a small town like Medewi , it's worth it. Perhaps especially where it 's not staged , but real .
Oceanmata believes that culture and nature belong together – and both deserve protection.
