Ogoh-Ogoh Museum

Ogoh-Ogoh Museum
Ogoh-Ogoh Museum

This small but fascinating museum

displays the towering effigies of terrifying-looking demons and monsters known as Ogoh-Ogoh in

Bali

.

On the night of March 16th each year, the day before the annual Nyepi festival, locals celebrate by parading huge, impressively handcrafted Ogoh-Ogoh figures before setting them on fire. The demons take the form of figures from Hindu legends, and the ritual is based on a tradition to banish evil spirits.

Many of the figures from the parade are displayed throughout the rest of the year here in the Ogoh-Ogoh museum. The work that goes into building the mythological monsters, which can get up to 20 feet tall, is remarkable. And the over-the-top expressions and poses (some quite graphic) make visiting this museum feel like you have stumbled onto a set of a horror movie.