.png)
Tue, 25 Mar 2025
JIMBARAN – Widiatmika School presented its 2025 Cultural Parade in a unique and meaningful way. This year, the ogoh-ogoh carried during the parade were not only symbols to ward off evil spirits but also powerful expressions of the Earth’s growing anger toward environmental destruction. These figures were crafted from recycled materials such as cardboard, used plastic, scrap wood, and fabric remnants, illustrating nature's fury in response to human exploitation.
Carrying the theme Amuk Kaning Pertiwi (Nature’s Wrath), the Cultural Parade became a reflective moment for the entire school community to explore humanity’s relationship with nature. The subtheme Bhuta Kala Murka Akibat Kerusakan Alam inspired ogoh-ogoh that symbolize various environmental disasters, such as flooding and air pollution.
“Our ogoh-ogoh feature towering giants with furious expressions, decorated with branches, plastics, and other waste materials collected by the students. We want them to understand that maintaining balance with nature is part of the Balinese Hindu philosophy, which teaches us to live in harmony with the environment,” said Ananta Victorious Octabrian, Chair of the 2025 Widiatmika Cultural Parade Committee.
Students from all levels, from early childhood to senior and vocational high school, actively participated in the project. They formed teams responsible for design, construction, and decoration. Students not only created the ogoh-ogoh from scratch but also collected the recyclable materials themselves. With guidance from arts and science teachers, the project became a cross-disciplinary learning experience that combined cultural values, creativity, and environmental awareness.
“By applying the 3R principles – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – we encourage students to see waste not merely as garbage but as something meaningful. This is not just an art project, but also a form of responsibility,” Ananta added.
The Cultural Parade is scheduled for March 25, 2025, during which the student-made ogoh-ogoh will be paraded around the school. More than an annual tradition, this event serves as a collective reflection on the state of the Earth and how culture can be a powerful medium to voice that concern.
Through this creative and hands-on initiative, Widiatmika School shows that cultural preservation and environmental care can go hand in hand. In the hands of students, tradition lives on, and the Earth is given a voice.
___
