In Bali, New Year Doesn’t Mean Parties or Crowds. Quite the opposite, it begins with a fear of demons. Then comes a collective purification ritual by the sea. Finally, the island falls into complete silence during Nyepi, the Day of Silence. Three ceremonies symbolically mark this transition: the Ogoh-Ogoh parade, the Melasti procession, and Nyepi itself. Each ritual, in its own way, reconnects people to nature, ancestors, and the cosmic order. Between living traditions and ecological awareness, the whole island takes time to refocus.
Article and photographs by Damien Lafon.
Ogoh-Ogoh: Ritual Monsters and Collective Purification
On the eve of Nyepi, the streets of Bali come alive with electric energy. Giant, part-human, part-demonic figures emerge. Known as Ogoh-Ogoh, these effigies are crafted from bamboo, foam, and papier-mâché. Built by each banjar (village council), they embody negative forces: jealousy, violence, arrogance, or inner turmoil. From the very beginning, the goal is clear bring forth what must be purged. Their grotesque appearance grimacing faces, sharp fangs, bulging eyes is meant to shock. But they aren’t designed to provoke fear for its own sake. Rather, they represent what the community wishes to cast out before Nyepi. This makes their creation a cathartic process.
The building of these effigies brings together young people, artists, and elders in a collective effort. For several weeks, often late into the night, they work side by side. From a logistical standpoint, the task is immense. Constructing an Ogoh-Ogoh can cost anywhere from 5 to 200 million Indonesian rupiah up to €12,000. These towering figures represent a major investment, usually funded through donations, local fundraising, and strong volunteer participation.
Bali’s Sacred Street Theater: Processions, Dance, and Fire
On the night of Pengerupukan, the eve of Nyepi, the Ogoh-Ogoh come to life in the streets. The entire island becomes a sacred stage. Traditional music, torches, chanting, and drums accompany the procession. Carriers dance, spin, leap, and mimic spiritual battles. By shaking the effigies, they aim to confuse wandering spirits. Though festive, the performance is deeply symbolic. The final act is destruction. In many villages, the Ogoh-Ogoh are burned before gathered crowds. This powerful gesture signals the end of chaos and ultimate purification. What was born from darkness returns to nothingness opening the door to a new cycle.
Did you know?
Some Ogoh-Ogoh stand over six meters tall and require more than a month of communal effort. Though ephemeral, these giants embody societal fears. Their destruction symbolizes the cleansing of negative energies before renewal.
Melasti: A Balinese Ritual of Purification Before Nyepi
Each year, hundreds of thousands take part in the purification ceremonies leading up to Nyepi. On beaches like Sanur, Tanah Lot, and Kuta, more than 20,000 worshippers may gather facing the ocean. A few days before the silence begins, the Melasti ceremony unfolds island-wide. At dawn, entire villages awaken. Men, women, and children walk together toward the sea, often barefoot. They wear traditional clothing white for purity, yellow for the divine and carry floral offerings. The goal is to purify not only temples and sacred objects but also thoughts and past wrongdoings. The sea is chosen for its symbolism: the infinite, memory, and the power to cleanse. For a day, it becomes an open-air sanctuary.
A Collective and Spiritual Cleansing
Priests lead the ceremony. They chant mantras and bless the crowd with holy water, which is poured over faces, hands, and feet. Ritual objects are immersed according to each village’s tradition. Offerings drift gently out with the tide. Here, nature is not just a backdrop it plays an active role in the ritual. It transforms, erases, and renews. As a result, this moment transcends personal purification. It connects people to gods, ancestors, and natural elements. Melasti thus becomes a time of balance and re-harmonization. By uniting with the sea, the community symbolically regains its rightful place in the world and prepares for the sacred silence of Nyepi.
Did you know?
During Melasti, sacred statues are sometimes carried miles from their temples to the sea or river. Even the oldest objects are moved, as flowing water is seen as a direct link between the human world and the divine.
Nyepi: Bali’s Day of Silence and Reflection
At sunrise, Bali comes to a standstill. No fires are lit, no vehicles move, no sounds break the air. The streets are empty, homes dark, even beaches silent. For 24 hours, Balinese people observe the Day of Silence, marking the start of the Saka calendar. Four principles guide this day: no fire (Amati Geni), no work (Amati Karya), no travel (Amati Lelungan), and no entertainment (Amati Lelanguan). This voluntary retreat applies to everyone, including visitors, who are asked to respect the stillness. Silence settles over households, in the air, in people’s eyes. In 2023, this pause reduced electricity use by 40%. In one day, Bali avoided more than 20,000 tons of CO₂ emissions a sign of a ritual that’s both spiritual and environmental.
Nyepi, a Spiritual and Ecological Ritual
Today, Nyepi goes beyond religion. It touches society, the environment, and collective imagination. With no human activity, air quality improves significantly. Noise and light pollution disappear. Wildlife benefits too birds return to villages, animals cross areas usually filled with people. This unique day offers a rare pause, both personal and global. Through Nyepi, Bali shows that silence, restraint, and harmony can have a real impact. This model inspires new ways of coexisting with life on Earth.
Did you know?
Denpasar International Airport completely shuts down for Nyepi, a world first for a religious event.
Bali: An Island in Search of Balance
In Bali, New Year rituals aren’t just traditions. Through Ogoh-Ogoh, Melasti, and Nyepi, the island takes a threefold path: releasing tension, purifying the environment, and reconnecting with what matters most. Each step plays a role monsters scare away spirits, the sea washes away faults, and silence restores the soul.
But these rituals are not relics of the past. They evolve with time. Young people actively help build the Ogoh-Ogoh. Through this, they learn the skills, stories, and values of their elders. This link between memory and transmission strengthens collective identity.
Likewise, Melasti locations adapt. While the sea remains central, lakes and rivers are also considered sacred. What matters is purification through living water.
Finally, after the silence of Nyepi, comes Ngembak Geni the reopening of life. Families reunite, smiles return, and children play again. This contrast marks a full cycle, where introspection and renewal meet.
Bali isn’t retreating from the modern world it’s engaging with it differently. These rituals remind us that by reconnecting with nature, community, and silence, a society can also reinvent itself.
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