Creative Initiative: Youth in Badung Transform Eggshell Waste into Ogoh-Ogoh Costumes

A group of young people in Blahkiuh Village, Badung Regency, Bali, have transformed chicken eggshell waste into a decorative skin for ogoh-ogoh (traditional Balinese demon effigies). The initiative was launched by Sekaa Truna Banjar Delod Pasar to create a unique texture whilst reducing household waste accumulation in their community.

I Putu Agus Kumara Adi Nata, head of the ogoh-ogoh construction committee for Banjar Delod Pasar, explained that eggshells are collected from local residents, particularly traditional snack vendors. “We gather chicken eggshells from community members in our banjar, especially traditional snack sellers. Yesterday we collected approximately two large baskets, which we then cleaned together before attaching them to the ogoh-ogoh frame,” he stated on Sunday, 1 March 2026.

After collection, the shells are cleaned and manually applied to the entire surface of the effigy framework. This process requires considerable patience as it is carried out directly by local youth. “The eggshell work alone takes approximately two weeks to complete. We’ve actually been doing this idea for three years now to create a fresh impression and inspire other ogoh-ogoh makers,” said Agus Kumara.

He noted that sourcing the raw materials presented no significant obstacles. The abundance of cake and snack vendors in Banjar Delod Pasar ensures a plentiful supply of eggshells. “Collecting eggshells is not difficult because our banjar has many cake makers, so we ask them not to throw their waste away immediately. We involve four main undagi (traditional craftsmen) who are local residents from our youth organisation,” he explained.

The ogoh-ogoh bears the title ‘Angkara Dewa’, which explores the philosophy of a leader’s greed, drawing from the figure of Prabu Dewata Cengkar. The story is taken from the legend of the Medang Kamulan Kingdom as a moral reminder for the community. “This ogoh-ogoh theme takes the title ‘Angkara Dewa’, which tells the story of a leader’s greed—in this case, we’ve chosen the figure of Prabu Dewata Cengkar. We deliberately selected this story from Medang Kamulan with our architect to feature this year,” he said.

The waste-based ogoh-ogoh will be displayed in a village-level parade during Pengerupukan night, the evening before Nyepi Day. The event will be centred at the Blahkiuh Village Market intersection and will be combined with a fragment dance performance by the youth. “The parade will take place at the Blahkiuh Village Market intersection during Pengerupukan night. Every year our village holds a parade that combines an ogoh-ogoh procession with a dance fragment performance,” he concluded.