Ogoh-ogoh festival at previous years

Bali’s Ogoh-Ogoh Festival has become one of the most popular annual events on the island for both local and foreign visitors. This unique celebration takes place on the day before Nyepi, also known as the day of silence, which this year takes place on March 16th. In the days leading up to the festival, people staying in Ubud and in other areas of the island will notice local communities making their ogoh-ogoh – large wooden effigies of demons and monsters. These elaborate models, fashioned from bamboo and decorated with papier mache, are then paraded through the streets in a noisy procession, accompanied by gongs and burning torches.

Known as Ngrupuk, the purpose of this festival day is to scare off evil spirits before the 24-period of silent reflection begins for Nyepi. Some of the ogoh-ogoh are extremely large and require several people to carry them during the parade. The procession has evolved into a competition in recent years, with the best ogoh-ogoh receiving a prize at the end of the day. On Nyepi, all traffic is banned from the streets as the Balinese people remain indoors with their families. Even the airport is closed for business on this special day and visitors to the island are asked to observe the local custom by staying inside their hotel compounds.

source: prolog.org

photo: allaboutbali-info.blogspot.com

Ceremony in Ubud

During the 2009 Conde Nast Traveler (a travel magazine published by the United States) quietly and without publicity has conducted an assessment of tourist locations in Asia and the results announced at the travel magazine in the January 2010 edition has been put ubud as most favorite tourist attractions in Asia surpassed 8 other attractions in asia like Bankok, Hong Kong, Chiangmai, Kyoto, Singapore, Shanghai, Jaipur and Tokyo.

As a village, Ubud has been able to make itself as an international village. Various kinds of art, culture, no traditions, and unique characteristics of communities and geographical areas are able to make this place became a favorite place to be visited by tourists abroad.

This visit is like a drug Ubud tranquility for its visitors. This is as reinforce the inherent philosophy of this ubud name. Palm based historical look Markandya Purana, Ubud own names transcribed from the word “ubad” (drugs). This is which is the basis and guidelines for leaders and the entire community to make Ubud as a drug in search of peace and inspiration to everyone who came to this village. More >

Rice Terraces in Ubud.

Ubud is a town in central Bali, Indonesia. Ubud is a favourite traveler’s destination in Bali and is famous as a centre of Balinese culture, arts and crafts.

Ubud can be described as a magical, wonderful, cultural center. Above all, it is famous as an arts and crafts hub. Much of the town and nearby villages seems to consist of artists’ workshops and galleries, mostly retailing cheap reproductions for tourists. There are some remarkable architectural sights, artistic gems to be found and a general feeling of well being to be enjoyed thanks to the spirit, surroundings and climate.

While Ubud seems to outsiders like one small town, it is in fact 14 villages, each run by its own banjar. Ubud has grown rapidly and some central parts are coping less well with the influx of tourists than others. That said, most development is sympathetic to the zeitgeist, if not designed specifically in the local style. Growth is continuing but there are still terraced rice fields along the rivers and regular, quiet village life carries on relatively undisturbed.

Due to its location 600 metres above sea level, Ubud enjoys somewhat cooler temperatures than the coast (sometimes necessary to bring a pullover for the evening), although the midday sun can still be scorching, and the humidity usually relentless. More >